Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta gives worrying David Raya update after Erling Haaland claim

Arsenal will take on Leicester City in their next Premier League match but Mikel Arteta’s Gunners find themselves dealing with a number of significant injury concerns

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will go into their Premier League meeting with Leicester as one of a handful of sides still unbeaten, but their squad depth is being put to the test.

Arteta made a number of changes for the Carabao Cup match against Bolton on Wednesday night, but that didn’t stop the Gunners running out 5-1 winners. Teenage prospect Ethan Nwaneri scored two of those five goals, while Raheem Sterling opened his account after arriving on transfer deadline day.

Next up is a Leicester team still waiting for a first league win under Steve Cooper, but Arsenal have some injury worries. Martin Odegaard’s return is still some way away, while David Raya missed the Bolton game – with teenager Jack Porter thrown in for his debut.

Raya’s fitness is a big concern going into the weekend, while there’s been even more fallout from last weekend’s draw at Manchester City. Here are Mirror Football‘s latest lines from around North London.

Arteta gives Raya update

Arsenal will need to make a late check on David Raya’s fitness before Saturday’s visit of Leicester City, Mikel Arteta has said. Raya received treatment in the second half of last weekend’s draw with Manchester City but sat out the Bolton game in midweek.

“We don’t know yet,” Arteta said when asked about the Spanish goalkeeper after Wednesday’s win. “He’s got a muscular injury so we need to check.”

Neto could be brought in for a debut after being cup-tied in midweek, but Arteta was also impressed with 16-year-old Jack Porter against Bolton. “I think he reacted really well, he was really composed yesterday in training and today as well,” Arteta said of the youngster. “His team-mates really helped him as well on that. What an experience and what a way to break a record.”

Gunners’ plans for Nwaneri

Mikel Arteta hinted Ethan Nwaneri could be close to a maiden Premier League start after impressing against Bolton. The teenager made his debut two years ago, when he was just 15 years old, but has been restricted to a handful of appearances in the league so far.

Nwaneri, who turned 17 in March, has been in the matchday squad for all of Arsenal’s matches this season but had only played four minutes against Spurs before the Bolton game. However, after watching the youngster score either side of half-time against the League One side, Arteta hinted there could be more to come.

Should Arsenal start Ethan Nwaneri against Leicester? Have your say in the comments section

“Ethan was really good,” the manager said. “A really strong performance. He feels part of us and is playing with that confidence and belief. To start in the Premier League is another step. On his journey he is ahead of where we expected. He will have minutes. He deserves it.”

Haaland red card debate rages on

Gary Neville has become the latest pundit to argue Erling Haaland should have been sent off against Arsenal. The Norwegian striker threw the ball at Gabriel’s head late in the game but escaped punishment.

Speaking on The Overlap US, former referee Christina Unkel expressed her surprise Haaland had got off scot free. Neville agreed, though he admitted he missed the incident in real-time.

“Tthe fact of the matter is that, as a football player – and this is not something that would be a rule in 2024, it would be a rule in 2014 or 2004 or whatever – if I threw the ball at Carra’s (Jamie Carragher) head directly from what would be a few metres away in a game, I think I would be red carded,” Neville said.

“I think I would accept that that would be a red card if you purposely throw the ball at someone a couple of metres away – as much as me and Carra laughed at before when we saw it because it’s quite funny – the fact of the matter is it is a red card in football.”

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