Major double Arsenal fitness update revealed hours before Manchester City clash

Arsenal supporters received an important fitness update in the hours preceding the battle of the Premier League with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

Sunday’s meeting between Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola was considered one of the decisive clashes at the start of the season, the two teams should be looking for the Premier League title in May.

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The accumulation was marked by many titles of the city camp, with Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Ruben Dias all making solid statements on the 5-1 defeat of last season in Arsenal and the desire to “avenge” this time.

Now the attention turned to the availability of two of Arsenal’s most influential figures, Bukayo Saka not having been presented for Arsenal since he was forced with a problem of the hamstrings during the 5-0 victory against Leeds United on August 23.

The absence of the winger has let Arteta remaner the attack options in recent weeks, the Gunners still finding results, but undoubtedly missing the tip of their England star in front.

Meanwhile, club captain Martin Odegaard created new concerns when he clumsyly landed during the 3-0 victory last weekend on Nottingham Forest, arousing fears of prolonged absence in the midfield.

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Now, according to a new update from Sami Mokbel from the BBC Sport, Bukayo Saka returned to the first Arsenal team the first team this week before Sunday afternoon against Manchester City in northern London.

The report indicates that the first indications are that the English striker could be available for the selection of the day of the Arsenal match at the Emirates stadium, although it remains to be seen if it means an action on the field during the competition.

Elsewhere, the report also reveals that Odegaard has also intensified its own training routine, while it remains to be seen if the Norwegian is available. The report cites sources that insist that the midfielder is not ready for the competition.

If one or the other player is adopted, this would represent a significant boost for Arteta, who was responsible for finding a balance between consistency and adaptability to injuries.

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The return of Saka in particular would give Arsenal more width and threat against a team of Manchester City which should start the competition in terms of possession, while the creativity and leadership of Odegaard are often at the heart of the attacker of the Gunners.

For City, the news could shape Guardiola’s late tactical approach, in particular in the midfield, where Rodri has already highlighted the need to impose control and hunger of the arsenal of transitional opportunities.

Pep Guardiola himself also spoke this week about improvements that Arsenal has made “step by step, window window”, recognizing their status as a real title by a large money activity on the transfer market.

The final decision on Saka and Odegaard could finally be summed up in late fitness tests, but even their inclusion on the bench could raise home support and provide Arsenal from crucial options.