Mikel Arteta has taken a proactive approach to managing his Arsenal squad's fitness, with midfielder Martin Zubimendi completing an individual indoor session while his teammates trained on Tuesday.
Load Management for Key Players
The decision to keep Zubimendi away from the main group is understood to be a precautionary load management measure. The Spanish international has been a near-ever-present figure for the Gunners this season, starting 15 of Arsenal's 16 Premier League matches and featuring in five of their six Champions League outings.
This careful management comes in the wake of a fresh injury blow for defender Ben White. The right-back was forced off with a suspected hamstring problem in the recent win over Wolves, after a demanding run of four starts in just ten days.
Injury List Grows Ahead of Everton Trip
White's issue adds to Arteta's selection headaches. The Arsenal manager confirmed that Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes were also absent from Tuesday's session, continuing their rehabilitation alongside young players Max Dowman and Cristhian Mosquera.
Arteta expressed frustration over White's setback, highlighting the strain on his resources. "Obviously, he hasn't played a lot of minutes because of the previous knee issue... the moment he started to get some momentum, he had to play a lot because we didn't have any other solution," the manager explained.
He even admitted to risking William Saliba in the previous match, stating the club was "buying tickets for another injury" due to a lack of available defenders.
Title Charge Hinges on Squad Fitness
Arsenal's next challenge is a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday. The Gunners will be looking to improve a concerning away record that has seen them fail to win any of their last three league matches on the road, with their last victory coming at Burnley on November 1.
The north London club currently holds a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League over Manchester City. However, they could be knocked down to second by kick-off if City defeat West Ham earlier on Saturday.
This midweek period marks Arsenal's first break from midweek action since the week beginning August 25. While there have been three international breaks since, most first-team players were involved with their national sides, meaning this represents a rare chance for genuine physical and mental recovery.
With the club aiming to end a 22-year wait for the English league title, Arteta knows that meticulous squad management will be crucial to navigating the relentless demands of the season and keeping his key players fit for the run-in.
