Arsenal will be back in action this midweek, with the Gunners taking on Chelsea in a crucial and highly-anticipated fixture. This game comes on the back of terrible form as the north London giants look to return to winning ways. Unfortunately, the availability of two key players remains uncertain.
They are none other than Takehiro Tomiyasu and Alexandre Lacazette. The pair missed out on Saturday's trip to Southampton, which ended in a 1-0 defeat for Mikel Arteta's side, but their absence was due to different reasons.
The Japanese right-back, who quickly became a fan favorite at the club due to his reliable performances, has been suffering from thigh issues and has not kicked a ball for Arsenal in three months, having last appeared in their 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool.
Lacazette, on the other hand, missed the trip to St. Mary's Stadium after contracting COVID-19. The Asian defender was expected back in training after the Southampton tie, and while he is close to completing his return, uncertainty lingers over his availability. The same is true for the French striker, who despite his poor goalscoring form, remains a key figure in Arsenal's lineup.
"With Laca we are assessing him today to see if he is available with the team," the Spanish manager said, as per the club's official website.
"Obviously as you all know he had COVID so he's been away for a few days. So we're trying to get [how] he's feeling and where he's at if he can contribute somehow with the team."
On Tomiyasu, Mikel said: "Tomi is very, very close. Whether this game is going to be too early for him or not, again we will decide it today after the training session."
Mikel will hope both men are available as he looks to turn his team's dreadful form around. Saka and Co. have lost three games in a row, going from sitting three points ahead in fourth to dropping behind Manchester United in sixth. All is not over as the fifth-placed Red Devils are level on points while fourth-placed Tottenham are only three ahead. However, Arsenal will need a victory away to Chelsea in order to maintain their UEFA Champions League hopes.
The visitors are already without Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey, two integral figures at the club, with both the Scottish left-back and Ghanaian midfielder set to miss the remainder of the season.
