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Arsenal provide massive Bukayo Saka & Emile Smith Rowe injury news

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's English striker Bukayo Saka (L) celebrates with Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe before his goal is disallowed during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on February 2, 2021. - 14 (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's English striker Bukayo Saka (L) celebrates with Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe before his goal is disallowed during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on February 2, 2021. - 14 (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal are preparing for the biggest game of their season on Thursday as they travel to the Czech Republic to face Slavia Prague in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, with some welcome injury news for Mikel Arteta ahead of the clash.

Putting Sheffield United to the sword with a resounding 3-0 win in the Premier League last time out provided a significant confidence boost after the disappointment of the first leg.

Arsenal saw off the Blades without key members of their squad, although replacements in the starting lineup Gabriel Martinelli, Dani Ceballos and Nicolas Pepe put in fine displays to soften the blow. Nonetheless, fitness concerns remained over key group Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The same applied to Bukayo Saka, who was forced off in the second half with a worrying looking thigh problem, even if a broken nail at this point would be enough to have supporters tensing up.

Arsenal provide massive Bukayo Saka & Emile Smith Rowe injury news ahead of Slavia Prague clash

Fortunately for Arteta, he will be able to bring Saka and Smith Rowe back into the fold with the duo deemed available for selection in a major boost to the Gunners’ chances of overturning the 1-1 first leg result on home soil.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the manager confirmed the Hale Enders have recovered from their knocks, with late fitness tests to come for the captain as well as the on loan Real Madrid midfielder.

Odegaard is a doubt with an ankle injury sustained during international duty and is unlikely to be risked, while Aubameyang was absent from the Bramall Lane clash through illness and will be monitored prior to Thursday evening.

In his stead Alexandre Lacazette put in a fine display with two goals and an all-round excellent performance in Yorkshire, leaving Arteta with plenty of decisions to make for the biggest game of his managerial career.

"“They fully deserve to be where they are and showed in the first leg that they never give up,” Arteta said of Slavia Prague, via football.london. “We’re going to have a really battle tomorrow.”"

Next. Slavia Prague preview. dark

There was also positive news regarding Folarin Balogun, who it was revealed recently is inching closer to penning a new long-term deal with the club to end months of speculation. Arteta insisted it was ‘very close’ to being announced.

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