"He is available": Mikel Arteta confirms "unbelievable" Arsenal star is fit for Bournemouth game

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a positive injury update ahead of the Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

The Gunners are presently top of the league with 70 points on the board, nine ahead of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand against Crystal Palace at home.

Arsenal will be in action in Saturday’s early kick-off against the Cherries and have the chance to go 12 points clear of the Cityzens, who face Chelsea away on Sunday.

Ahead of the encounter, Arteta has provided a timely injury boost by confirming that Eberechi Eze is fit and available after missing three matches with a calf problem.

He told Arsenal.com: “He is available. He has [been ahead of schedule], my first conversation with him after he felt a niggle, he wanted to be available the next week, we knew that was impossible.

“But the recovery, the will that he’s shown from day one to get back as quickly as possible, how he’s pushed the medical staff and himself to be there tomorrow, it’s just great to watch.”

Eze, described as ‘unbelievable‘ by Arteta, was in a good run of form before his untimely calf injury. He was brilliant in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen, scoring a stunning long-range goal.

Unfortunately, he sustained an injury in the same game. He was a surprise absentee for the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City last month. Kai Havertz struggled in the no.10 role in his absence.

Martin Odegaard has returned since the last international break to start against Southampton and Sporting CP, but the Norwegian is a major doubt to face the Cherries at home on Saturday.

He suffered a fresh knock to his knee during the Sporting CP game on Tuesday. Based on the update from Norway manager Stale Solbakken, he could be ruled out of the upcoming encounter.

Havertz scored a dramatic late winner coming off the bench against Sporting CP in midweek, and he should be a front-runner to replace Odegaard in the attacking midfield position tomorrow.

Eze, who has just returned after a lay-off, could be introduced as a second-half substitute.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

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