MIKEL ARTÉTA reassured Arsenal supporters summer signing Riccardo Calafiori and star defender Jurrien Timber are expected to be fit for the start of the new season after they both missed a 4-1 pre-season win over Germany Invincibles Bayer Leverkusen.
Italian Calafiori has yet to play a single minute since his €45million switch from Bologna and Timber missed all of last season apart from a substitution appearance on the final day’s match.
Arteta predicted both would be ready to play again imminently and said: “Jurrien had a little discomfort in his feet in the last few days. That is normal after what he has been through and we did not want to take any risks.”
The Belgium international, who played in two of the club’s recent USA tour matches, is expected to be back in full training by the end of the week.
Commenting on Calafiori, Arteta added: “Riccardo? He is fine. So much has happened to him in the week since he signed that he has had to adapt to. We will manage him slowly and, hopefully, he will be available on Sunday against Lyon.”
Alex Zinchenko took full advantage of Timber and Calafiori’s absence with a great performance including a 20-yard power drive to put Arsenal ahead after only eight minutes.
“You can see Alex is at it,” Arteta smiled afterwards. “He knows what he has to do to contribute. He knows what his strengths are and he is working hard on any weaknesses too. It is good to see.”
Belgium international Leandro Trossard showed he had lost none of his appetite after his country’s disappointing show at the European Championships.
The winger won possession with some superb pressing from a goalkeeper clearance and then started a quick passing move in the area which he finished with a relative tap-in for Arsenal’s second a minute later.
Gabriel Jesus, looking refreshed after not being selected for Brazil’s summer Copa America campaign, added a third shortly before half-time.
Kai Havertz capped his return from representing Germany in the Euros with a close range finish for Arsenal’s fourth at the start of the second half. Adam Hlozek scored a consolation goal for the German side.
Just as encouraging for Arteta as the win and team performance was the return to action of his other Euro stars Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and David Raya.
Asked if they would be ready to face Wolves on the opening day of the season he said: “They have to be ready a – these are the demands.
“We really look after them and give them days off whenever we can. The best way to tell how they are is to look in their faces and see the spark in their eyes and how they want to play. They certainly want to be involved.”
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said: “That was a huge wake-up call for us. We were way below our normal standards. We need to improve. Arsenal has been challenging for the past few seasons and will be up there again this time from what I have seen..”
A long-term friend of Arteta, he added: “Mikel has always been a competitive animal and you can see he has developed a great project here. You could see from a young age how he wanted to win.”
