Arsenal are set to face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, but several key players will miss the match due to injury or recovery. Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the team's availability, with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber among those who will miss the match.
What happened?
William Saliba suffered an injury prior to the World Cup and was ultimately unable to continue playing through it. He reached the semi-finals, but was forced off during the game and didn't appear in the third-place play-off match.
Why it matters for Arsenal
The absence of Saliba and Timber will be a significant blow to Arsenal's chances in the Community Shield. However, Arteta has confirmed that Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka will all be available, having trained on Friday with further sessions planned for Saturday.
What comes next?
The Community Shield match is set to take place on Sunday, with both teams looking to get their players ready following the summer World Cup. Despite the absence of several key players, Arteta is optimistic about the team's chances, saying "Jurrien [Timber] is progressing really well, he is on the pitch, we are ramping up certain actions."
