Arsenal kicks off their Premier League season at home against newly-promoted Coventry City, but manager Mikel Arteta is forced to regroup his defence without William Saliba and Jurriën Timber.
The Gunners' most significant injury concerns lie in defence. Saliba is still recovering from a back injury and is expected to be sidelined for the first few months of the campaign.
Timber, on the other hand, has not yet returned to full training with the first team. He is projected to commence training in a few weeks. The Dutch defender last featured in the starting lineup back in March and appeared from the bench in the Champions League final against PSG.
With Saliba and Timber missing, it’s likely that Ben White and Kieran Tierney will fill in at the back. This was the pairing Arteta opted for in the Community Shield, where Arsenal triumphed over Manchester City with a convincing 3-0 victory.
Another option for the manager could be Ezri Konsa. Arsenal has recently completed his transfer from Aston Villa for £51 million, plus £4 million in add-ons, but it is doubtful that the defender will be available for the clash against Coventry.
There is also uncertainty surrounding Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian started against Manchester City but was subbed off at half-time and was later seen with ice on his foot. Arteta stated that Guimaraes' fitness would be assessed just before the match.
Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Subimendi have all resumed training after taking time off following the World Cup. Saka previously dealt with an Achilles issue, while Rice had been troubled by problems with his hamstring. Both managed to feature in the second half against City.
If Guimaraes is unable to start, young star Miles Lewis-Skelly may get the nod in midfield. He began the Community Shield in the starting lineup, and Arteta recently emphasised that Lewis-Skelly is “100 percent” staying at Arsenal.
