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Latest Arsenal injury news as six miss Leicester amid David Raya hint and Ben White update

Ben White and David Raya of Arsenal
-Credit: (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)


Mikel Arteta could welcome back up to five Arsenal players for this Saturday's Premier League clash against Leicester City. The Gunners were without the likes of Leandro Trossard, David Raya and Ben White for the midweek Carabao Cup victory over Bolton, but all three could return this weekend.

The aforementioned trio featured in the chaotic 2-2 draw against Manchester City from last Sunday with all three enduring very different afternoons. Trossard saw his game end prematurely after he picked up a red card late into the first half with White, while carrying an injury, brought on off the bench to sure up the defence.

Raya meanwhile, made a number of spectacular saves before emerging as a fitness doubt for the coming games because of a thigh issue. Trossard, having served his one-match ban, will be back available to face Leicester and Arteta has now offered updates on both Raya and White along with Jurrien Timber.

Asked specifically about Raya, the Arsenal boss said: "We have to wait another 24 hours. We have to wait 24 hours to see if it’s looking good or not that good. It’s not about a risk, it’s about a player being fit and available or not. When we have that clarity for Leicester, which is the main thing we’re thinking about at the moment, we will make that decision tomorrow.

"Jurrien [Timber] was able to take part in training today, that’s good news, so he’ll be available in the squad. Hopefully Ben [White] too." Arteta will be hoping White and Raya can make it, but one player guaranteed to miss out is Mikel Merino.

The summer signing is still recovering from a shoulder injury picked up during his first training session at the club. On Friday, Arteta was asked for an update on his rehabilitation and though he confirmed he would miss Leicester, his update was still quite promising.

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"Tomorrow is too soon," he told reporters. "Next week we’ll see. He had partial training today. He’s been working so hard. It’s looking good. It’s about the healing of the bone and how mature that is to expose him to contact basically." Martin Odegaard is another midfielder absent with Arteta recently revealing it is unlikely he returns before the October international break.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is also expected to be missing for another few weeks with Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu both yet to feature this season. Elsewhere, goalkeeper Tommy Setford is dealing with a hip injury but Neto will be back in the squad and could therefore come in for Raya.