Arsenal handed double boost ahead of Brentford clash as Arteta hails unsung hero
Bukayo Sake and Gabriel Martinelli are ready to give title-chasing Arsenal a double fitness boost.
Gunners wingers Saka and Martinelli both had to be substituted during Arsenal’s six-goal thrashing of Sheffield United on Monday. But Mikel Arteta says he is “pretty positive” that they will be ready to face Brentford on Saturday when Arsenal can go top of the Premier League if they beat their London rivals.
Saka, 22, has scored 13 goals this season and supplied eight assists but came off through illness at half time at Bramall Lane. Martinelli was also a major concern because he suffered a cut to his foot and had to be carried off but the Brazil winger - who has six goals and four assists this season - is also expected to face Brentford.
Gunners boss Arteta said: “We got some players back last Monday and then we had Martinelli and Bukayo with little issues. We’re pretty positive that hopefully they can be part of that. But we’ll have to see how they feel on Friday.”
Arsenal can apply pressure on title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City with an eighth straight Premier League win. Even though Arsenal are currently third, they can go top and would then stay there if Liverpool and City share a draw at Anfield on Sunday.
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That would leave Arsenal top on goal difference after their recent prolific run which has seen them score 31 goals in their seven game winning streak. Arteta has warned Brentford will carry a major threat as they drew at the Emirates last season while the Arsenal manager says he will watch the Anfield showdown at home with his kids.
Arteta said: “We know the demands that we have. We know the demands the Brentford are going to put to us to win the match. And then the fact that we are still not there and we want to be better than where we are at the moment. If we want to do that we have to continue to win.
“That’s the only thing we can control. Perform well and play better than them. If we do that on Sunday it’s a beautiful game to watch for any football supporter and I’ll certainly be watching it.
Mikel Arteta has hailed Kai Havertz (L) while Gabriel Martinelli (R) should be fit to face Brentford (Getty Images)“But it’s nothing to do with me. I will sit there with my kids and enjoy that match. I can’t control it. I will enjoy a magnificent game of football with two of the best teams in Europe in the last decade and let’s see what that brings. But the focus is on us and Brentford.”
Arteta has also heaped praise on in-form Kai Havertz who has scored seven goals this season and has overcome some really big doubts to add an extra dimension to Arsenal’s attack.
Arteta added: “It says about his character as well and how he has dealt with all those question marks and the attitude that he shows all the time. Even when things were not so good in certain phases of the game he continued to work hard. That’s why he’s loved by everybody here.
“Then we can see his quality, we can see his intelligence on the pitch, and the contribution he’s having. Obviously very happy with him.”
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