Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has announced that Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Ødegaard will be unavailable for the upcoming match against Newcastle United. The Gunners are set to play at St. James' Park on Saturday, November 2nd, in a crucial Premier League encounter.
Riccardo Calafiori, a vital part of Arsenal's defense, suffered a knee injury during their recent Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk. The Italian left-back had to leave the field early after twisting his knee and is expected to be out for several weeks. This injury is a significant setback for Arsenal's defensive lineup, especially with other defenders also dealing with fitness issues.
Martin Ødegaard, the team's captain, is sidelined with an ankle injury sustained while playing for Norway in the Nations League. Although Ødegaard is making steady progress in his recovery, he is not yet ready to return to action. Arteta expressed hope that Ødegaard might be back before the November international break, but for now, he remains unavailable.
Adding to Arsenal's injury concerns, Ben White has not yet returned to training. White, who played a full match against Liverpool, was absent from the squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Preston North End. Arteta mentioned, "Ben White didn’t train with us yet, so let’s see how it evolves," indicating that White's availability for the Newcastle game is still uncertain.
The upcoming match against Newcastle is critical for Arsenal as they aim to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City. With several key players missing, Arteta will need to rely on the depth of his squad to secure a positive result. The Gunners face a challenging schedule ahead, including fixtures against Inter Milan and Chelsea, making the management of player fitness and recovery even more crucial.
Arsenal fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on the fitness of their star players, hoping for their swift return to strengthen the team's campaign in both domestic and European competitions.
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