Mikel Arteta could have a fully fit squad for Arsenal’s crunch North London Derby against Tottenham on Sunday. It’s the first time all season that the Gunners can say this having dealt with lingering problems throughout.
They take on Ange Postecolgou’s Champions League-chasing Spurs in one of the most eagerly anticipated meetings between the sides in years. After Liverpool were only able to draw with West Ham on Saturday, Arsenal are now looking to all but rule them out of the title race.
They will be up against a refreshed Tottenham team that haven’t played for over two weeks. Their last match was a 4-0 drubbing by Newcastle.
Postecoglou will be able to welcome back some key players for the game himself. Here, football.london brings the latest from the Arsenal treatment room.
Gabriel Magalhaes
In the latter stages of Tuesday’s emphatic win over Chelsea, Gabriel signalled that he needed some treatment before going down clutching his ankle. He completed the match despite it appearing that Jakub Kiwior was set to replace him.
Injury: Ankle.
What Arteta has said: “Apart from Jurrien it’s going to be very close that we have everybody available.”.
Potential return date: Tottenham (A) – Sunday, April 28.
Jurrien Timber
The 22-year-old made a goalscoring return after just eight minutes following his serious knee injury. The Dutchman started his first game for eight months in a 2-2 draw for the Under-21 side away to Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League 2 on Monday night.
Timber has been sidelined since August after picking up an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury on the opening day of the season against Nottingham Forest.
Injury: Knee.
What Arteta has said: “We’re going to have to make that decision tomorrow after a training session. It’s very close, I don’t know if this is going to come to soon for him, but he’s very close.”
