Victor Osimhen Arsenal EPL
Arsenal FC EPL

Arsenal take on Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday and full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko along with Emile Smith Rowe could miss this encounter.

The left-back was one of the key signings for Mikel Arteta this summer but he’s missed the previous two games with a calf injury. While he’s not completely ruled out from Sunday’s game, the manager has admitted that the Ukrainian will be touch and go.

Arteta said in his press conference: “Again, we have to wait until tomorrow to make that decision[whether Zinchenko will play or not].

“What we have decided to do for the international break, doesn’t mean that we are going to say the same for the weekend, so it’s something we will address tomorrow.”

Emile Smith Rowe had sustained a groin injury earlier this month but unlike Zinchenko, the youngster is not likely to be fit in time for the Bees game.

“It’s been an ongoing issue that Emile’s had,” Mikel said on ESR’s fitness. “It’s something we are trying to assess and trying to help as much as possible because we need him fit, we need him available and we need him performing at the best level, because he’s such an important player for us.”

Will the injuries to Zinchenko & Emile Smith Rowe be a cause of concern?

Smith Rowe has fallen down the pecking order this season as it’s Gabriel Martinelli who’s been playing on the left wing while Odegaard is the current playmaker in the team.

This basically means Smith Rowe’s injury will only affect his personal development because Mikel Arteta won’t have any problems in naming his forward line on Sunday.

However, the absence of Zinchenko could be a big blow for Arteta because Kieran Tierney has not been up to the mark. The Scottish international has been good in patches while the summer signing has brought in a level of consistency on the left-hand side of defence.

If Zinchenko is not ready then Tierney will come into the side but Brentford have some massively bullish forwards so players like Toney will definitely target the Scott.

Read: Here’s how Arsenal could line up against Brentford on Sunday.