Mikel Arteta faces a selection headache of epic proportions. During Friday’s pre-match press conference, the Arsenal boss confirmed that a trio of core players are facing late fitness tests to determine if they can feature against bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
With several defenders already confirmed out, the availability of these three could dictate whether Arsenal maintains their momentum or suffers a festive stumble.
1. William Saliba: The "Running Modification" Mystery
The biggest concern for fans has been the prolonged absence of William Saliba, who has now missed the last four matches. Arteta finally shed light on the nature of the Frenchman’s mysterious injury:
The Issue: It started as a minor ankle injury, but Saliba reportedly modified his running style to compensate, leading to an overload in a different area.
The Verdict: Arteta was cautious but optimistic for the long term. "If you asked me for the Everton game [Dec 20], I think he will be fit; for tomorrow, I don’t know."
The Implication: Saliba has not yet trained with the main group, making a start against Wolves highly unlikely.
2. Declan Rice: Recovering from Illness
The engine room was noticeably quieter during the midweek Champions League win over Club Brugge due to Declan Rice’s absence.The Issue: Rice was sidelined by a bout of illness following the Aston Villa match.
The Verdict: "Let's see how he is today," Arteta said on Friday. "Normally in a few days it gets resolved, but we have to wait and see how far he can push."
The Implication: Unlike the others, Rice’s issue is non-physical (not a muscular injury).
If he has recovered his energy levels, he is the most likely of the trio to return to the starting XI.
3. Jurrien Timber: The "Bad Kick"
Timber has been a revelation this season, making his absence from the Brugge trip a major talking point.
The Issue: He picked up a "bad kick" during the loss to Aston Villa and wasn't feeling comfortable enough to travel midweek.
The Verdict: Arteta described his recovery as a "matter of days," but remained non-committal about the Wolves game.
"It depends how he feels today... whether it’s tomorrow or not, we’ll see."
The Implication: With Riccardo Calafiori suspended and Gabriel Magalhães still out with an adductor issue, Timber's availability is critical to avoid a complete makeshift backline.
The Full Injury List
To put the scale of the crisis into perspective, Arsenal could be without up to nine players for the Wolves clash:
Player,Status,Reason
Riccardo Calafiori,OUT,Suspended (5 Yellow Cards)
Gabriel Magalhães,OUT,Adductor Injury
Kai Havertz,OUT,Knee Recovery
Cristhian Mosquera,OUT,Ankle (Long-term)
Max Dowman,OUT,Ankle Ligaments
Leandro Trossard,Doubt,Calf Knock
The Silver Lining: Gabriel Jesus is Back
The one major boost for Arteta is the successful return of Gabriel Jesus. After a year sidelined with an ACL injury, his energetic cameo in the Champions League has put him in contention for Premier League minutes this weekend, providing a much-needed tactical alternative in attack.
With so many defensive absences, should Mikel Arteta risk a partially fit William Saliba, or trust a makeshift backline against Wolves?