Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta provides injury update on key players

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on key duo Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba ahead of their trip to Burnley on Saturday.

Arteta briefed the media on the fitness of first team players who have been sidelined for long periods of the season due to injuries.

French centre-back Saliba was absent for the Carabao Cup fixture in midweek against Brighton, but could be available to travel to Burnley.

However, Brazilian attacker Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz all remain sidelined.

“[Gabriel] Martinelli is still out. [William] Saliba we will have to wait and see because we have another training session this afternoon. The rest are getting closer but not available yet.”

On Martinelli’s potential return, he added: “We aren’t sure yet, but I think this game will come too soon.”

Meanwhile, the Spanish manager was unable to reveal when Martinelli is expected to return, while ruling him out of the Burnley game on Saturday.

Arsenal secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after clinching their eighth consecutive win with a 2-0 victory over Brighton at the Emirates on Wednesday, without some key players.

The Premier League leaders will travel to Turf Moor on Saturday with a four-point lead at the top of the table and a defence that has not conceded in six matches.

Asked if there is a feeling within his camp that Arsenal are unstoppable at the moment, Arteta replied:

“No, because you always have that sense of urgency, and you see the complications and the challenges that the next opponent is going to bring you, and we know that and every three days, we have very little time to train and prepare.

“It’s a big opportunity that we have ahead of us, but we have to continue with that level of consistency, and we know how difficult that is. Tomorrow is going to be an extremely tough match for us, and we’re going to have to again hit those performance levels.”