Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are fit to face Brentford on Saturday after suffering knocks against Real Madrid.
With one eye cast towards Arsenal’s second leg with Real Madrid on Wednesday following their 3-0 first-leg win, Arsenal fans feared the worst when Rice and Saka came off with knocks during their jubilant victory.
But Arteta put any doubts for the supporters to bed though, confirming both are fine and available this weekend.
“With Dec and Bukayo, they are both fit,” he said. “It was a matter of two kicks, they have recovered well and are available for tomorrow.”
Gunners fans will also be happy to hear that Riccardo Calafiori is “progressing really well” in his recovery from a knee injury, despite no clear timeframe being provided on his return from injury.
“To give you a timeline is difficult because he needs to step (his recovery) in terms of having more people around and seeing how he reacts after that,” Arteta said.
“But he’s in a good place I think.”
Arteta also remains hopeful that he might see Kai Havertz back on the pitch before the end of the season, with the player “desperate to get back as soon as possible.”
The Germany international has been out since February after suffering a hamstring injury while training in Dubai but could return before the end of the campaign.
“He’s desperate to get back playing as quickly as possible and we have great medical staff as well to look after them so hopefully we can have him (back) but let’s wait.
“Once you get to the last stages of rehab, that’s when you can understand better how close or far to making that next step.”
Arsenal are 11 points behind Liverpool with just seven games to play in the Premier League but Arteta has not given up hope of catching them yet,
“There is always a chance but it’s certainly not in our hands,” he said. “All we have to do is win our football matches, be better than the opposition and see what happens but we want to be there for sure.”
