Arsenal are gearing up for their return to action against Bournemouth this weekend and they are sweating on the fitness of several key players ahead of the match
With the international break nearing an end, Arsenal will be able to fully focus on a huge run of fixtures.
The Gunners have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season and will be hoping to continue that when they travel to Bournemouth on October 19. That match will be followed by a midweek game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and a blockbuster clash against top of the table Liverpool on Sunday.
Neymar responds to transfer question
Neymar has joked he is ready to join Arsenal after boxing promoter and Gunners fan Frank Warren urged him to move to the Emirates.
Neymar, who currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, was in attendance for Artur Beterbiev’s win over Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh when he spoke with Warren. In a clip that has gone viral on social media, Warren says: “This is the man! He’s coming to England to play for Arsenal!
“When are you coming to Arsenal? We need you!” Neymar laughed in response, before adding: “You need me? I’m back, I’m back, I’m back!”
Martinelli injury update
Gabriel Martinelli has become the latest Arsenal star to suffer an injury scare while away on international duty.
The Gunners lost captain Odegaard after he suffered an ankle injury while playing for Norway last month and star man Saka picked up a knock in England’s 2-1 defeat to Greece on Thursday.
And the Brazilian Football Confederation have now announced that Martinelli has had an MRI scan on his right calf which “showed a small area of muscle edema in the area”. However, he has remained with the squad rather than returning to Arsenal for treatment.
Gabriel Martinelli has picked up a knock
Rice hails Carsley
Declan Rice says interim England boss Lee Carsley has been “amazing”, with the Arsenal star praising his man-management and coaching skills.
“I think he has been unbelievable,” Rice told BBC Radio 5 Live when asked about Carsley. ” It’s my first time working with him because I haven’t worked with the under-21s, but the 21s boys that have come in couldn’t speak highly enough of him.
“We as senior players are not surprised but we have said how good he was in meetings and games and how he takes training. He is one of those managers…look at Jack Grealish, he put an arm around him, gave him confidence, they are the type of things players love and Lee has done that. He has been amazing for us.”