Arsenal just got the boost they desperately needed

Every week feels crucial for Arsenal this season, given that four trophies remain up for grabs, but the next few days could be especially pivotal. On Wednesday night, in a Premier League fixture brought forward due to the EFL Cup Final, Mikel Arteta's team will travel to bottom of the table Wolves, targeting a fifth successive victory at Molineux.

Then, on Sunday, the 199th North London derby will take place, with the Gunners facing a Tottenham side still yet to win in 2026, claiming just two victories from their last 17 in the league. Spurs though are under new management, with Igor Tudor in charge for the first time, while Arsenal will have played three times since the Lilywhites' most-recent outing, so fatigue could be a factor.

Having seen their lead at the top of the table cut to just four points, there is no margin for error in either the Black Country or at White Hart Lane, looking to open up, at least, a seven point gap by Sunday night, even if Manchester City would then have a game in hand. So, ahead of these two away trips, who will be available to Arteta?

Mikel Arteta gives positive fitness update

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Arteta alleviated some of the fears supporters had. He confirmed that both Riccardo Calafiori and Benjamin White will be available:

"[On Calafiori]: "He’s fine, he was training with us today. He’s feeling better and hopefully he’s fit for tomorrow". [On White]: “It was just a bit of fatigue... he was feeling a bit of tightness in the hamstring, but he’s fine." "

Calafiori was due to start Sunday's 4-0 FA Cup demolition of Wigan Athletic, but picked up an issue during the warm-up. This was a major concern given the Italian's injury history, as well as the fact that this had already happened this season, withdrawing at the 11th hour prior to December's clash with Brighton. White meantime hobbled off towards the end of the weekend win, replaced by Martín Zubimendi, but Arteta confirmed this was merely fatigue.

Meantime, Arteta confirmed that two other important squad members will not feature against Rob Edwards' team, but could be available in time for the derby.

""For Wolves (Martin Ødegaard) is not going to be fit, but for Sunday we’re very hopeful that he can be with us. Kai [Havertz] is the other one that again, for the weekend is a possibility, so looking forward to having him in the squad.”"

Potentially having both Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz back and available at Spurs on Sunday would be a double boost. The German looked excellent in midfield against both Leeds and Sunderland, as well as scoring the clincher against his former side Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. He then "sustained a muscular injury" last week, thereby seemingly set for a few weeks on the sidelines, so a quick return would be great news too.

Ødegaard meantime has similarly been dealing with injury issues this season, which might explain why he's not been at his best, but with Mikel Merino sidelined long-term, Arteta needs every midfield option he can possibly have.