TEAM NEWS
Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte missed our midweek trip to San Sebastian after picking up knocks against Fulham last weekend, with Ruben Amorim unsure if the pair will be back in the mix for Sunday’s match.
“I don’t know [if they will be available],” said the boss in his pre-match press conference, which was conducted in the immediate aftermath of Thursday’s Europa League tie in Spain. “We need to survive Sunday. The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes.”
Young striker Chido Obi is an option to play against his former club, having not been eligible to play in our recent European outing, although wing-back Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu will be out, as he serves the second of his three-match domestic suspension.
Amorim provided a hopeful update on Amad during his latest media briefing, but will not have the Ivorian or fellow long-term absentees Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw for the 16:30 GMT kick-off. Goalkeepers Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton have also been out injured of late, while centre-back Jonny Evans hasn’t played since before Christmas.
As for Arsenal, there was no fresh team news in Mikel Arteta’s press conference on Friday afternoon, although the Gunners are also set to be without several key players. Forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are working on their respective injury rehabilitations, while Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out for the season.
