Arsenal's Mikel Arteta provides fitness updates on Timber and Calafiori

Arsenal claimed their second win of the pre-season after comfortably beating Bayer Leverkusen. Although Gunners fans were pleased with their team's display, many were left wanting to see new signing Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber play.

The Dutch full-back was signed last summer but missed last season after suffering a serious knee injury in the Premier League opener. Mikel Arteta said the former Ajax player had foot discomfort and that after spending so much time on the sidelines they did not want to take any risks with him. 

"With Jurrien he had a little discomfort in his foot the last few days,” Arteta said. “After the amount of time he has been out, we did not want to take any risks with him."

As for Calafiori, the former Bologna centre-back simply did not play because the Spanish coach wants to gradually adapt him to the team due to his recent move to the club. ingles. "With regards to Riccardo, so much has happened to him in one week. He has come into a new environment, a completely different methodology, different training and we are managing him.

 

August 8, 2024