Arsenal provide huge Tomiyasu & Lacazette updates ahead of Chelsea

Arsenal are preparing for a make or break Premier League clash on Wednesday as they take the short journey west to take on Chelsea, with question marks over key players.

In fairness, everyone is a key player at this stage. Losing three consecutive matches for the second time this season, with the culling of the squad in January added with the injuries it places additional importance on every individual in the group.

Players like Nicolas Pepe have become one of if not the only experienced threat off the bench, while previously peripheral figures like Nuno Tavares and Sambi Lokonga have been thrust into the starting lineup.

In the defeat to Southampton it was Eddie Nketiah who led the line in place of Alexandre Lacazette. The captain had been absent from the game through Covid-19, and Mikel Arteta provided an update on the Frenchman.

Arsenal provide huge Takehiro Tomiyasu & Alexandre Lacazette selection updates ahead of facing Chelsea in the Premier League on Wednesday

"“With Lacazette, we are assessing him today to see if he will be available [following Covid]. Tomiyasu [calf injury] is very, very close,” he said.“Whether this game is going to be too early or not, we will decide today after training.”"

Other than the 30-year-old there are still question marks over Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has been plagued with calf problems since the back end of January.

The niggling issues, which started in one calf and then occurred again in the other, have kept him sidelined and promoted Cedric in his place. While the Portuguese defender has done well, he is still a big step down and the sooner the Japan international returns, the better.

Discussing his potential availability ahead of the Chelsea match, Arteta offered some encouraging news.

"“Tomi is very very close,” he said.“Whether this game will be too early for him or not we will decide today after the training session.”"

There are plenty of fans who will rightly sceptical about this assessment. Arteta made a similar claim three matches ago, and still he hasn’t made a matchday squad.

Being realistic, this game will surely come to soon for him.