Arsenal handed Mikel Arteta boost ahead of Liverpool clash

Everyone watching on at the performance Arsenal produced over Manchester City will have been captivated by their bravery, determination and quality. That includes Mikel Arteta.

This was an Arteta, however, who had to break his routine and watch on from home. Testing positive for Covid in the build up to the 2-1 defeat, it was Albert Stuivenberg who took over primary touchline duties.

A man supporters were already fond of and affectionately dubbed ‘Airpod Albert’, the Dutchman spoke well before and after the match and did a fine job of instructing the team on the day as they produced their best performance for many years despite the lack of any points to show for it.

Being such a hands-on coach with his management style and demeanour on the sidelines, Arteta’s absence proved not to be too detrimental to the side despite him watching on from home.

Arsenal handed Mikel Arteta boost ahead of Liverpool clash with manager back from Covid absence to take training ahead of Carabao Cup semi-final

With Arsenal back at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool, it was thought that the Spaniard would have to watch from afar again.

"“I have no clue,” Stuivenberg said when asked about Arteta’s potential return.“We don’t know how this virus always develops. So we first have to be testing negative, of course, to come back in.”"

As per Simon Collings, there has been some positive news on that front.

The Evening Standard reporter revealed that Arteta not only aims to be in the dugout on Thursday, but also take training with the rest of the squad on Wednesday as they prepare for the game with a session and tactical analysis.

Insisting that he was feeling better after ‘rough’ couple of days, the manager is back in good health and can reassess his squad in person after his seven day isolation ended on Tuesday, with him now taking control of a group missing four players.

Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pepe, Mohamed Elneny and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have all jetted off to Cameroon for the 2022 AFCON tournament, with the former’s departure meaning we could see the return of Sambi Lokonga in midfield, or even some minutes for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is locked in talks over a move to Roma.

Arsenal have three cup matches in succession before they return to Premier League action away at Tottenham.