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Arsenal could be without four first-team players ahead of their opening Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Friday August 5.
Mark-Mann Bryans of PA (Press Association - it is the the national news agency for UK and Ireland) has claimed that 22-year-old Gunners star Emile Smith Rowe is set to miss the clash at Selhurst Park due to a groin injury. Smith Rowe is due back in training next week but his pre-season has been severely affected by fitness issues.
The England playmaker, who scored 10 goals in 33 Premier League appearances last season, didn't play any part in his club's pre-season tour of the US.
Meanwhile, Football London reports that first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney may also not make it in time to play in his side's opening encounter.
The Scotland international's time at the Emirates Stadium has been blighted by injury. His absence towards the end of last season was one of the main reasons in Arsenal's failure to finish in the top four.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, the Gunners' first-choice right-back, is also a doubt as he has not featured in any pre-season clashes. New signing Fabio Vieira is another player likely to miss out on the clash against their south London rivals.
Mikel Arteta won't get 'carried away' despite Arsenal's excellent pre-season
Ahead of the Spaniard's third full season in charge, expectations have grown to the point where anything less than a top four finish will be considered a disappointment.
The Gunners blew an incredible opportunity to qualify for the Champions League last term as they were pipped by arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur. But they have enjoyed an excellent pre-season on and off the pitch, which saw them score 20 goals in five wins from five outings. Their defense has been tight as well, with the Gunners conceding keeping three clean sheets and conceding four goals in those five games.
Arsenal have also brought in five new players this summer, including Manchester City duo Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Following his side's huge victory over the Blues, Arteta was keen to play down expectations for the season ahead. He told Arsenal's official website:
“Yeah I’m really happy. With the performance in general and with the tour. The attitude from a club perspective to show here, and all the work we have done and understand how big we are and the amount of support that we get."
However, he added:
“Then obviously the performance today is a really good example again, that we are moving forward, improving a lot as a team, but don’t get carried away. It’s a test match and there are still a lot of things to do to get better.”
