By Stephen Simon
Arsenal have been handed a potential double injury setback ahead of Sunday’s London derby against Chelsea, with Bruno Guimaraes and Cristhian Mosquera both missing from Thursday’s training session.
Mikel Arteta could be forced to make late adjustments to his plans for the highly anticipated clash at the Emirates after two first-team players were absent during the club’s open training session at London Colney.
According to reports, summer signing Guimaraes and Spanish defender Mosquera were not involved as Arsenal continued preparations for their meeting with Chelsea.
Guimaraes’ absence is particularly notable given the midfielder’s recent fitness struggles. The Brazil international joined Arsenal from Newcastle United in a reported £75 million deal during the summer transfer window but has been managing a persistent groin problem.
The 28-year-old missed Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City because of the issue before returning to action against Aston Villa on Monday. He was introduced from the bench and played just 19 minutes in the victory.
Arteta has reportedly been cautious about managing Guimaraes’ workload since his arrival, with Arsenal unwilling to risk aggravating the problem so early in the campaign. However, his potential absence against Chelsea would deprive the Gunners of one of their most important midfield options in a fixture expected to demand both physicality and tactical discipline.
Mosquera’s situation is also being closely monitored after he was withdrawn during Arsenal’s win at Villa Park.
The 22-year-old was replaced by Ezri Konsa in the 79th minute after appearing to feel discomfort. Arteta, however, played down fears of a serious problem immediately after the match, explaining that the decision was made as a precaution.
“He’s fine, but he was feeling like he was about to have something, and that’s why we have the bench that we have,” Arteta said.
Despite the manager’s reassuring assessment, Mosquera’s absence from Thursday’s session could leave his availability for the Chelsea encounter in doubt.
Should the defender fail to recover in time, Konsa would be the leading candidate to step into the starting XI. The England international joined Arsenal from Aston Villa in a reported £51 million transfer last month and could now be in line for his first full home appearance at the Emirates.
Arsenal will hope both players can return to full training before Sunday as Arteta prepares his squad for a crucial early-season test against Chelsea.
The Gunners are aiming to preserve their perfect start to the Premier League campaign, but the fitness of Guimaraes and Mosquera could play a significant role in determining Arteta’s options for the derby.
