Calafiori and Nwaneri return for Dinamo Zagreb conflict, Saliba and Saka nonetheless out

Arsenal will welcome again Riccardo Califiori and Ethan Nwaneri for his or her Champions League sport towards Dinamo Zagreb, however William Saliba and Bukayo Saka stay out.

Mikel Arteta confirmed the duo shall be concerned in Wednesday’s sport on the Emirates after each missed the Gunners’ final three video games in all competitions towards Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa, with 17-year-old Nwaneri additionally injured for his or her 2-0 defeat to Newcastle within the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

“Very constructive information. We missed them for a couple of weeks they usually returned as we speak for coaching. They are going to be obtainable for the sport,” Arteta stated on the returning pair.

The Spaniard additionally shared some constructive information on the health of influential centre-back Saliba, who sat out Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Villa, however stated tomorrow’s conflict will come too quickly.

Arteta added: “He’s evolving rather well. The previous couple of days he was feeling a lot better already however this sport comes just a little bit too early for him.”

England ahead Saka can be stepping up his return after a hamstring harm picked up towards Crystal Palace on December 21.

“That’s not going to alter. I feel it’s inside the course of and the time had. That part is gone now.

“He’s doing rather well. Feeling higher daily however we have now to respect the therapeutic course of after which he has different phases to undergo within the rehab.”

European nights are again ✨ pic.twitter.com/FjtZkrSvYd

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 20, 2025

Knockout qualification on the playing cards

The draw with Villa, which noticed them give up a two-goal lead, noticed Arsenal lose additional floor within the title race. The North Londoners at the moment are six factors adrift of Liverpool having performed a sport greater than the leaders.

However there have been no such points for Arteta’s males in Europe, with a win for the third-placed outfit on Wednesday all however securing their place within the final 16.

“To this point we have now accomplished rather well. We’re in a robust place and now it’s time to capitalise at residence,” Arteta stated on tomorrow’s conflict and their marketing campaign to date.

“The work that we have now accomplished for a lot of months, we’d like a robust efficiency towards a extremely good facet and we’ll attempt to do this.”

Computerized qualification to the final 16 with a top-eight end brings with it the added bonus of not being concerned in a two-legged knockout sport, which might show handily lower in workload as they proceed to battle within the league and the Carabao Cup.

“Let’s do what we have now to do first which is at all times tough as a result of we’re speaking concerning the Champions League,” Arteta added. “If we handle to do this clearly we can have one of the best concepts on the desk to make the correct resolution.

“Yeah it was very useful [a break last season] with the schedule that we have now for the final three months you possibly can have a break and reset just a little bit, work on issues and relaxation some folks however some individuals are again. That will be nice.”

Arsenal switch information

Arteta was requested about Arsenal’s January switch exercise because the window enters the ultimate 10 days, with the North Londoners available in the market for a striker addition.

“I perceive it occurs. I get lots of people texting me ‘you after him’ and this. I don’t even know what they’re speaking about.

“I don’t comply with it an excessive amount of. I’ve sufficient work to do with loads of issues so I don’t get too distracted with it.”