Mikel Arteta now confirms Arsenal duo won't face Bayer Leverkusen but £27m star is "available"
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update ahead of the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman scored in a dramatic late win at home.
The London giants now host Leverkusen at the Emirates on Tuesday. The Champions League tie is even after a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the last 16, and Arsenal have everything to do to win.
Ahead of the game, Arteta has confirmed that Leandro Trossard is back in training after his recent injury setback. The £27 million signing is ‘available’ to face Kasper Hjulmand’s side.
Arteta said in his pre-match presser: “He’s okay, he felt good so he’s available.”
The manager added that the game will come too soon for Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber, who are recovering from minor injuries.
The duo could have an outside chance to return for the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Arteta added on Odegaard & Timber: “So we’re really pushing [Odegaard], he really wants to try to be available, but we’ll have to wait and see in the next few days when he trains with the team how he feels.
“We know the game that we’re going to be playing in a few days again, and the more players that we have the better.”
“We don’t know [on Timber], I think with him it will be a matter of days, but not sure.”
Alongside the pair, Mikel Merino is another confirmed absentee after foot surgery.
Arsenal were pretty average during the second half of the first leg at the BayArena. Leverkusen grew in confidence as the game went on.
The Gunners struggled to create any clear-cut chances and got out of jail in the end after Kai Havertz converted an 89th-minute penalty.
Arteta’s side welcome Leverkusen at the Emirates tomorrow. They need a quick start off the blocks with a goal to avoid a nervy atmosphere.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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