Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Eddie Nketiah misses Arsenal training ahead of Sevilla clash

sportsmole.co.uk, 7 November 2023, 18:21
Arsenal have been dealt yet another fresh injury blow ahead of their Champions League Group B clash with Sevilla on Wednesday, as Eddie Nketiah was nowhere to be seen in training on Tuesday.

The Gunners sit at the summit of the four-team section courtesy of their 4-0 beating of PSV Eindhoven and 2-1 win on Sevilla's turf either side of a narrow defeat at the hands of Ligue 1 side Lens.

Mikel Arteta's men are four points clear of Sevilla and PSV, meaning that victory on Wednesday would see them progress to the last 16 with two games to spare if Lens overcome the Eredivisie side.

However, Arsenal will welcome Sevilla to the Emirates drained both physically and mentally, having suffered back-to-back defeats to West Ham United and Newcastle United in the EFL Cup and Premier League respectively.

Arteta is also working without Jurrien Timber, Emile Smith Rowe, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus due to injuries, in spite of the fact that the latter has been called up to the Brazil squad for November's international fixtures.

The Gunners are also sweating over the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard, who sat out Saturday's defeat at St James' Park following a hip issue, and Arteta is unsure whether he will be fit.

After addressing the media alongside Takehiro Tomiyasu, Arteta led a training session on the London Colney pitches, where Nketiah was notably absent from the rest of the group.

The England international is understood to be carrying a knock from the weekend's defeat to the Magpies, and he will require a late fitness test to determine his availability.

Nketiah is yet to start a Champions League game this season, coming off the bench against Lens and PSV in the last two matchdays, but he would have been expected to begin Wednesday's game amid Jesus's layoff.

However, with the 24-year-old now in the care of the medical team, Arteta is at risk of being without both of his recognised centre-forwards at the Emirates Stadium, which could see either Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli start through the middle.

Arteta is facing quandaries in all areas of the pitch, as Kai Havertz put in another mediocre display against Newcastle and controversially escaped a red card for a crunching tackle on Sean Longstaff.

Fabio Vieira and Mohamed Elneny will be the Spaniard's only alternatives if Odegaard misses out, though, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is a candidate to return to the backline.

Sevilla are also working around their own mini-injury crisis, though, as four-time Champions League winner Sergio Ramos has been ruled out of the clash with a calf problem.

Ramos is one of five defensive absentees for the Europa League holders, who are also without first-choice goalkeeper Orjan Nyland and one of his backups - Alfonso Pastor - owing to quadriceps and knee injuries.

Brazilian centre-back Marcao is sidelined with his own knee problem, while World Cup-winning left-back Marcos Acuna was another late withdrawal due to a hamstring issue.

Top News

24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The first Premier League fixture after Christmas will see Everton make the short trip down the M62 to face champions Manchester City at the Etihad on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could reinstate Kevin De Bruyne to the starting lineup when they face Everton at the Etihad on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sean Dyche could be tempted to make a tactical change up front when his Everton team travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City will look to end a four-game winless run when they welcome Luton Town to Ashton Gate on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has reportedly given the green light for a swap deal involving Ansu Fati and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur can make his long-awaited domestic return when Spurs square off with Nottingham Forest in Thursday's Premier League Boxing Day encounter. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will be reuniting with the club he managed for 17 games when Tottenham Hotspur visit the City Ground for a Boxing Day Premier League battle. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Occupying opposite positions to what many perhaps expected at the start of the season, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur lock horns in a Premier League Boxing Day battle at the City Ground. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that star winger Bukayo Saka will miss "several weeks" due to a hamstring injury. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that Romeo Lavia will again miss out on a place in his squad against Fulham on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has reaffirmed his commitment to Newcastle United despite speculation linking him with a move away from St James' Park. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Martin Keown believes that Ethan Nwaneri could be the man to best deputise for Bukayo Saka at Arsenal. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have enquired about the availability of Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi in January, according to a report. 24 December 2024 talksport.com 'Tis the season to be jolly, but perhaps not if your name is Michael Olise. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On a seemingly unstoppable surge towards Premier League title number two, Liverpool return from their brief Christmas hiatus on Boxing Day, hosting Leicester City in the 8pm kickoff. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Short-serving Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo seeks to prolong Spurs' festive misery on Boxing Day, when his Nottingham Forest side tackle the Lilywhites at the City Ground. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Liverpool sit top at Christmas having mauled Tottenham and fans are dreaming of more title glory. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Christmas is a joyful occasion for many, but some of the Premier League's lower-ranking sides may have slightly muted celebrations. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy might give consideration to a formation change for Boxing Day's Premier League clash away to leaders Liverpool. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot should be working with an identical group of players for Boxing Day's Premier League battle with Leicester City at Anfield. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Former Arsenal star Ray Parlour is known for telling a good story, whether that's on or off the pitch. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sweeping aside every obstacle in their path, Premier League title favourites Liverpool resume their pursuit of stardom at 8pm on Boxing Day, when Leicester City make the jaunt to Anfield. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sitting just above their hosts in the Premier League table, Aston Villa will visit Newcastle United on Boxing Day, aiming to avoid a fifth straight away defeat in England's top flight. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's quest to win a first Premier League title in 21 years is still on - Bukayo Saka's injury doesn't change anything. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has been talking team news and transfers ahead of Thursday's Premier League contest with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has lost Lucas Paqueta to suspension ahead of Boxing Day's Premier League battle with Southampton at St Mary's. 24 December 2024 talksport.com Football and travel chaos seem to go hand-in-hand over winter, but no one's had it quite as bad as Tottenham fans in 1996. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ivan Juric oversees his first Southampton match on Boxing Day, when the Saints pit their wits against West Ham United at St Mary's in the Premier League. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by two points and two places in the Premier League table, Newcastle United and Aston Villa will both aim to boost their top-four ambitions when they clash on Boxing Day. 24 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Boxing Day marks the beginning of a new era for Premier League basement boys Southampton, as Ivan Juric takes charge of his inaugural game at home to West Ham United.