Arteta uncertain over Calafiori availability for Man City vs. Arsenal: ‘Short turnaround’

Mikel Arteta was unable to confirm either way as to whether or not Riccardo Calafiori will be available for Sunday’s potential Premier League decider between Manchester City and Arsenal: ‘We will try tomorrow to push everybody’. 

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Will Calafiori be fit enough to feature in Man City vs. Arsenal?

Calafiori has missed Arsenal’s last two matches, the 2-1 Premier League defeat against AFC Bournemouth last weekend and the 0-0 draw with Sporting CP in the Champions League on Wednesday, as the result of an unspecified knock. 

It remains to be seen whether the Italy international will be available to face title rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal currently have a six-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side, but City have played one game less, which means that they could move within three points of the league leaders with a game in hand heading into the final run-in if they win on Sunday. The two teams are only separated by a margin of three on goal difference. 

Previewing what is arguably the biggest game of the Premier League season during his pre-match press conference, Arteta told reporters that Calafiori is among the players who are ‘close’ to returning, but that a final decision will only be made after training on Saturday. 

“We will try again,” Arteta said when asked about the availability of Calafiori and his teammates Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber. 

“Some players are quite close, but the turnaround is short, so we will try tomorrow to push everybody. And, if they are in good condition, they will be part of us, and if not, they won’t. They haven’t been in the last few weeks unfortunately.” 

Arteta went on to confirm that England international Bukayo Saka is the only Arsenal player definitively ruled out of the Man City clash as things stand: “Bukayo is out, that’s for sure. The rest, let’s see.”