“He was a bit emotional after the game, let’s see how he’s today” - Mikel Arteta provides fitness update on 2 Arsenal stars before PSG clash
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a fitness update on Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of their clash with Paris Saint Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, October 1. While Arteta said White and Calafiori will be assessed today, both defenders are doubts for the match against PSG.
Arsenal has been hit with injury setbacks this term as Mikel Merino, Ben White, and Martin Odegaard are all battling injuries. Ben White was the latest injury concern of the trio.
The England defender missed the Gunners clash with Bolton Wanderers and Leicester City after coming in from the bench against Manchester City. He reportedly missed the clash with Bolton and Leicester due to a groin injury.
Riccardo Calafiori started in Arsenal’s last three games, including their 4-2 win against Leicester on Saturday. He appeared to be in discomfort after the match against the Foxes as he was seen wearing a knee sleeve as he departed the stadium.
Ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with PSG at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, Arteta provided the fitness update of White and Calafiori in the pre-match conference. He was somewhat cagey about the fitness updates of both players and said (via Football.london):
''No big news. We have a training session later. We’re not expecting anyone to return. Those are the two players [White and Calafiori] that are in contention and we have to review today. We didn’t do any training sessions yesterday. He was a bit emotional after the game. Let’s see how he is today.’’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta makes feeling clear for PSG boss ahead of UCL clash
Mikel Arteta heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique ahead of their two sides clashing in the UCL. The Arsenal manager said Enrique’s fingerprints can be seen at all the clubs he has managed and played for.
Speaking to the BBC, Arteta said:
"I am an admirer of him. An unbelievable personality. Huge character, huge energy He is very supportive of young players always. What I love about him is whatever he has been, as a player or a manager, his fingerprints are everywhere. You can sense that that is his team."
"The way the players behave, the way they want to attack, they want to dominate teams. The spirit and energy they have. He has this unbelievable power. His approach to life and his profession. It is something to really look at and I have learned a lot of things from him."
The Gunners will be looking for their first win in the UCL against Paris Saint-German. They played out a 0-0 away to Atalanta in the opening game of their European campaign.