Big boost for Arsenal with £88m duo in contention to face Chelsea - report
Arsenal have received a big injury boost ahead of the Premier League derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today.
The Gunners are currently four points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, while they have a six-point lead over the Blues.
Mikel Arteta’s side will aim to extend the gap with a victory. The club have been handed a timely boost before the London derby.
HandofArsenal, who exclusively broke the Cristhian Mosquera story last summer, has revealed that Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus have travelled with the Arsenal squad for the Chelsea game.
The striking duo, valued at a combined £88 million by Transfermarkt, face late fitness tests.
The Arsenal insider wrote on X: “Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyökeres have travelled with the Arsenal squad for the Chelsea game. Both face a late fitness test.”
Arsenal handed huge boost for Chelsea clash
Arteta is unlikely to make wholesale changes to the starting XI for the encounter. In our view, there could be a maximum of three changes from the 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori are poised to return to the backline. With Leandro Trossard nursing a minor injury, Gabriel Martinelli could be unleashed on the left wing against the Blues.
Mikel Merino looks likely to continue as the makeshift number nine, but the availability of Gyokeres and Jesus would represent a huge boost for the manager during the back end of the derby.
Jesus has just returned from a long-term injury lay-off of 11 months, and Arteta may restrict him to a cameo role at best. Gyokeres likewise could be handled with extra caution in the short run.
The Swede has barely picked up an injury during his career, but Arsenal can’t risk any recurrence due to rushing him back to the XI. Hence, we anticipate a minimal role for the 27-year-old as well.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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