As a potential boost for Leicester City, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he knows not whether first-choice goalkeeper David Raya will be available for the teams’ Premier League meeting this weekend.
Top-flight teams have again been in League Cup action this midweek, with it the Foxes’ turn in the competition’s third round on Tuesday night. Their progression on penalties against League Two Walsall has set up a future tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Also playing last night were Saturday’s upcoming opponents in the Premier League, Arsenal. They entertained Bolton Wanderers and even with a rotated squad came out on top, 5-1 the end scoreline. Though some changes were forced on Arteta, in particular between the sticks.
Goalkeeper David Raya was visibly in discomfort during last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City, which threw up a conundrum as back-up option Neto, on loan from Bournemouth, was cup tied whilst third-choice Tommy Setford is also out injured. Ultimately, 16-year-old Jack Porter made his full debut for the Gunners.
The club’s supporters will be hoping Raya is fit enough to return for the Foxes’ visit to North London in two days’ time. “We don’t know yet,” Arteta responded after full-time when asked if this will be the case, before expanding on if the problem was thigh related: “He’s got a muscular injury, yes.”
As Leicester are facing Arsenal in the Premier League, there are no barriers this time preventing Neto from filling the void in Raya’s absence, though the 2023/24 golden glove award winner would still be a huge miss regardless of who takes his spot.
City’s opponents will definitely be without captain Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney this weekend due to various injury troubles. Leandro Trossard will be able to return to the squad as he has now served the suspension he warranted for his sending off against Man City, plus Ben White will require assessment like Raya before the weekend.
Leave a Reply