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Arsenal team news update: Arteta hints trio could be fit to face Sheff Utd

By on January 15, 2020

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Mikel Arteta has provided a team news update ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Sheffield United and the boss has positive news on three key players.

Sead Kolasinac looked like he had been ruled out of the game this weekend after the club released the latest team news on Arsenal.com earlier today claiming the left-back wouldn’t feature against Sheffield United due to a muscle injury.

However, speaking later at his pre-match press conference, Arteta told reporters that Kolasinac took part in full training on Tuesday and is still being assessed by the medical team before a final decision is made over his involvement on Saturday.

The Gunners head coach also had positive news on Lucas Torreira as the midfielder also took part in training yesterday after being forced off at half-time during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

The Uruguayan international is still feeling a bit of discomfort, much like Kolasinac, so the pair will need to undergo late fitness tests before Arteta will know whether they’re available for selection.

Hector Bellerin is another player who’ll need to be assessed over the next couple of days as he looks to finally make his comeback from a niggling hamstring injury that’s hampered him for the past six weeks.

Arteta says the right-back is looking ‘much sharper’ in training but he’ll need to get a few more sessions under his belt before he’ll be back to his best so it remains to be seen whether he’ll be involved against the Blades on Saturday.

The boss told Arsenal.com:

“The doctors are assessing [Sead] still – he had a normal session yesterday. He’s been in some discomfort, we know this season that he had some little niggles, so we have to assess him and see if we can get him fit for Saturday or he will be out.

“It is something related to his hip, producing some pain in the muscle. He is a tough boy, he wants to train, he wants to play and hopefully he will be available for the weekend.

“It’s a very similar situation [with Torreira]. He trained yesterday as well, but still not 100 per cent confident so we will have to wait and see again.

“Hector has been training with us for the past few days, he is looking much sharper, much better. He needs a little chunk of training sessions before he is ready to compete but he is looking much better.”

One man who’s certain to miss out is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the striker will start a three-match suspension after Arsenal’s appeal to have the ban reduced was dismissed by the FA.

Calum Chambers is also unavailable as he’s facing up to nine months out with a knee ligament injury while Kieran Tierney remains out with a shoulder problem. If Kolasinac is also ruled out, Bukayo Saka will have to deputise at left-back.