Arteta: Everyone's fit, now I have a headache!

Mikel Arteta says that Arsenal have a clean bill of health going into tomorrow’s game against Bournemouth, and while that’s obviously a positive, it also gives the Arsenal boss some thinking to do when it comes to selecting his squad.

With 25 to choose from, and only 20 possible inclusions, there is careful consideration needed, not least because this update means summer signing Jurrien Timber is available after two appearances for the U21s.

Speaking at his press conference this afternoon, Arteta said, “Everybody is fit and available so now it’s the headache to make the right selection.”

Asked whether or not Timber would be able to find the right rhythm with just three games to go, and high stakes games too, the Spaniard said, “We’re not going to know that until we throw him in there. It’s tricky because there’s only three games to go.

“It means eight months of football, he’s played only 150 minutes of football with the under-21s.

“It’s a question that has to be resolved only by throwing on the pitch and see what happens, and we have to try to nail that decision as to when.”

It remains to be seen if he will be involved, but Arteta has welcomed his return for the boost it gives the squad.

“It increases the quality of the training sessions for sure,” he said.

“You see how commanding he is, his leadership, his quality and the rest they have to lift it up.

“They start to demand more from each other and they look at each other and they say, ‘I better be good because I want to keep playing!’ and this is all very positive for the squad.”