Mikel Arteta Provides Update On Arsenal Injuries

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Arsenal's injury absentees.

The Gunners thumped Chelsea 4-0 in the final pre-season game of their US tour.

However, new signing Fabio Vieira, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith Rowe were still absent.

After the game, Arteta gave an update:

"Yeah, Tomi is really close to start doing some training sessions."

"Hopefully next week and Fabio probably a little bit longer."

"I think he needs another week or so before he starts with the team but he's been working hard and he's been really unlucky to start his Arsenal career in this way but again he's fitting in well."

On Tierney, the Spaniard described him as:

"Not fit".

It is not clear when each player will again be able to feature for Arsenal on the pitch.

However, while both injuries crippled Arsenal last season, the replacements are no longer so inferior.

New signing Oleksandr Zinchenko steps in at left-back, the Ukrainian arriving from Manchester City.

Hugely experience at left-back and possessing all the qualities for Arteta's system, Zinchenko provides a perfect back up option and could challenge Tierney even when he is fit.

The return of William Saliba allows Ben White to drop into the right-back role to replace Tomiyasu.

The defender shares a lot of traits with the Japanese full-back and can fill in very well.

Gabriel Jesus also took a knock in the game, Arteta clarified when questioned:

"Yeah he got a knock in the first half in his quad I think it was and it wasn't very comfortable to continue and obviously we didn't take any risks today."

Arsenal fans will be hoping that is is just a knock for Jesus, and that he'll be soon back on the pitch. The Brazilian has been in fantastic form since joining from Manchester City.