Arsenal are heading to West Ham this weekend with their Premier League title dreams hanging in the balance—and their squad looking stronger than it has all season. A win at the London Stadium would leave Mikel Arteta's side just two games away from lifting the trophy, and the Gunners boss has some positive injury news to share.
After welcoming Martin Odegaard (knee) and Kai Havertz (groin) back into the squad for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, Arteta now has only two players sidelined: Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber.
Merino is edging closer to a return, though his timeline remains uncertain. The midfielder is hopeful of featuring again this month, but reports from Spain have cast doubt on his availability for the World Cup, leaving fans in a wait-and-see holding pattern.
Timber, meanwhile, has missed the last 11 matches with a groin problem of his own. Arteta recently explained, "We don't know yet when he will be back. He's doing some work on the pitch at the moment, but we need to build up his intensity before he can compete with us." With so few games remaining, some journalists have speculated that his season might be over—a logical conclusion given the circumstances.
When asked about both players ahead of the West Ham clash, Arteta was blunt: "No chance for them this weekend." He also confirmed there were "no fresh concerns" in the squad, a welcome boost for a team chasing glory.
On the other side, West Ham are fighting for their Premier League survival and have just one confirmed absentee. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has been out since September with a back injury, and at 41 years old, his return looks increasingly unlikely. It would be a sad note to end a long and distinguished career.
With the title in sight and key players returning, Arsenal fans have every reason to feel optimistic. Now it's all about delivering on the pitch—and maybe wearing the right gear for the occasion.
