Mikel Arteta confirms double injury boost ahead of Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid | Football

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are both available for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

Odegaard started the first leg but was withdrawn early in the second half before missing Saturday’s 3-0 win over Fulham.

Havertz, meanwhile, has missed the Gunners’ last two games after picking up an injury during their 1-0 win over Newcastle.

But the pair could be in line to return to the starting lineup at the Emirates on Tuesday as Arsenal bid to reach their first Champions League final since 2006

‘They’re available, in the squad both of them,’ Arteta confirmed in his pre-match press conference.

‘It’s great. We need options, we need the capacity to play different games tomorrow, whether it’s from the start or after.

‘It’s really, really good news for us to have them both back.’

Arsenal, though, will still be without Jurrien Timber as his frustrating end to the season continues.

Havertz’s return to fitness could leave Arteta with a selection conundrum at the top of the pitch given Viktor Gyokeres’ impressive performances in the last week.

The Swede scored Arsenal’s goal in the first leg from the spot and notched a brace at the weekend against Fulham.

Bukayo Saka also impressed against Fulham and looks poisedto start again on Tuesday, having been brought off at half-time on Saturday to manage his comeback from an injury.

On Saka’s return to fitness, Arteta added: ‘Great, that’s what we need when we arrive in this stage of the competition – the players not only to be available, but to be in top condition to perform and make the difference, and Bukayo will certainly give us that.’

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