Saka and Timber have missed the Gunners last two games since the end of the international break with injuries.
While Mikel Arteta teased some of his injured players could return today, the duo have not been passed fit and are not included in the matchday squad.
Ben White continues at right-back with Noni Madueke ahead of him in attack.
Odegaard is also not in the squad despite arriving with the group at the Emirates on Saturday morning.
The captain started both games against Southampton and Sporting CP in the FA Cup and Champions League respectively but was forced off in the latter with 20 minutes remaining.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken this week revealed his international captain had suffered a ‘minor setback’ in training.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Norgaard, Eze, Dowman, Trossard, Salmon, Jesus
There is also no room for Riccardo Calafiori in the squad.
The Italy international is another nursing an injury issue and with Piero Hincapie only deemed fit enough for the bench, there is a rare start for Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
The Hale End graduate has only started one other Premier League match this season will the Gunners prepared to listen to offers for the 19-year-old at the end of the season.
Eberechi Eze is back among the subs after his recent knock.
Arsenal host Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal have the opportunity to temporarily move 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win against Bournemouth today.
It has been a turbulent three weeks for the Gunners, who saw their Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City compounded by a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Southampton shortly after the international break.
A hard-fought 1-0 win against Sporting CP saw Mikel Arteta’s side get back to winning ways, as they now turn their attention back to the league title race.
Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of several key players, but now three points would pile the pressure back on City, who face a trip to face Chelsea on Sunday.
Metro’sLIVE matchday blog will bring you all the build-up, confirmed team news and starting XIs, goal updates and minute-by-minute coverage
Garnacho fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim following his arrival in Manchester as Erik ten Hag’s replacement in November 2024, dropped for a crucial derby match with Marcus Rashford.
While Rashford would leave on loan that winter, Garnacho forced his way back into the side despite not being a natural fit for Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation.
Garnacho’s attitude was questioned at United with his social media activity, and that of his brother, frequently landing the player in trouble with a move last summer benefitting all parties.
Garnacho scored the goal of his career against Everton (Picture: Getty)
Aas he approaches the end of his first season away from Manchester, the 21-year-old has suggested mistakes may have been made.
‘I remember in the last six months I was just not playing like before at Manchester United,’ Garnacho told Premier League Productions.
‘I started to be on the bench, it’s not a bad thing, I was only 20 years old, but in my mind it was like I had to play every game.
Garnacho helped United win the FA Cup in 2024 (Picture: Getty)
‘In my mind, maybe it is also on me, I started to do some bad things.
‘But yes, it was just this moment in life and sometimes you have to make decisions and I am really proud to be here and still in the Premier League at a club like this.
‘Everyone knows the team we have and the things we can do. Sometimes, we have better moments or worse moments, I am proud to be here but with United, I have nothing wrong to say about the club, no one in the club or the team-mates.
‘It’s just a moment in life that changes and life continues. I have no regrets.’
Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson (Picture: Getty)
Leeds United could be without several players, including Gabriel Gudmundsson and Anton Stach, for Monday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
The injuries continued to pile up for Leeds following their FA Cup victory over West Ham, with Stach and Joe Rodon both limping off during the win.
Daniel James already missed last weekend’s cup triumph, and will also not recover in time for Monday’s game against his former side.
‘Anton Stach will definitely miss the game on Monday, (with an) ankle injury after the cup game,’ Daniel Farke said in his pre-match press conference.
‘Also, Joe Rodon will miss the game on Monday. Also ankle injury for him.
‘Daniel James will also miss the game. Sadly, an adductor strain in the session before the cup game (and) won’t be available.’
Anton Stach is set for a few weeks on the sidelines (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s difficult to say,’ Farke added. ‘(It’s) a ligament injury in the ankle, also the same for Joe Rodon. Normally, you would say it’s not realistic for both of them to be able to help us in April and we would just have them back in May.
‘Of course, our medical department is trying everything. It’s crunch time of the season. Of course you want to have, especially these players back as soon as possible.
‘We will try, step by step, also day by day, to improve the situation. If they would be able to feature at some point in April, it would be a bonus right now. At the moment, realistically, we have to say, probably, we’ll just see them back in May.’
Noah Okafor is a doubt for Monday’s game with Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
But Farke was more hopeful that the trio of Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol and Noah Okafor could make a return for Monday’s game against the Red Devils.
‘Jaka Bijol is currently struggling with a knock, he was not in team training yet during this week,’ the German said.
‘Also, Noah Okafor, today, not in team training, is struggling with some back problems, also a question mark behind his availability.
‘And Gabi Gudmundsson has made some progress. He came back with some light groin problems after the international games, but all three of them are doubts.
‘If you would play the game tomorrow, then all three wouldn’t be available. Thank God, the game is on Monday, so we have a bit more time.
‘I’m hopeful I have all three of them also ready for the game because we need our players ready and fit for this game.’
Leicester City are facing a second successive relegation (Picture: Getty/Metro)
Leicester City have lost their appeal against a six point deduction which puts them in severe danger of being relegated to the third tier for just the second time in their 142 year history.
It’s been a real fall from grace for a club who were Premier League champions ten years ago this season, and who are now facing a second successive relegation after they finished 18th in last season’s top flight.
The Foxes rode the wave of success that came with the miracle of their 2016 title by getting to the Champions League quarter-final the following season, winning their first FA Cup in 2021 and reaching the Europa Conference League semi-final in 2022.
But success costs money, and as expectations grew more and more needed to be spent. Big transfer fees were spent on the likes of Youri Tielemans and Wesley Fofana following their title win, while lucrative long-term contracts were given to players like Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumaré, Jannik Vestergaard – all in the name of challenging the Big Six and turning Leicester into a regular contender for European football.
Too many of those important transfers haven’t worked out and the resulting squad is a strange mix of exciting youngsters and older players who are sticking around because they won’t get a better wage elsewhere.
16-year-old Jeremy Monga has appeared in 24 league games this season, but could be sold to improve Leicester’s finances. (Picture: Leicester)
Patson Daka is one of the club’s high-earners and will likely leave on a free this summer after failing to live up to his initial potential (Picture: Getty)
Leicester City lose appeal against points deduction
Leicester were initially charged in May 2025 by the Premier League for breaching profit and sustainability rules relating to the 2023/24 season.
In February, an Independent Commission handed the Foxes a six-point deduction in the Championship, which saw them drop to 20th in the league.
The club said they were disappointed with what they called a ‘disproportionate’ punishment, and appealed.
However, this week that decision was upheld by an independent appeal board.
With the matter now at an end and five games of the season remaining, everyone at the Club is fully focused on the matches in front of us and on shaping the outcome of our season through our results on the pitch,’ a Leicester statement read.
‘We know this has been a challenging period, and we thank our supporters for the backing they continue to give the team. The responsibility now is to ensure these remaining games are approached with the focus and intent our current situation demands.’
Leicester fans have protested against the board on multiple occasions this season (Picture: Getty)
The Foxes’ current situation feels like a word of warning for other sides who are treading a dangerous line between spending just enough money to win and so much that you break the rules.
Relegation in 2023 came as a bit of a shock and the club were desperate to bounce straight back up.
Like most relegated sides they had to sell some of their best players and James Maddison and Harvey Barnes were sold for close to £80million without adequate replacements.
The 2016 title win was remarkable and offered Leicester a chance to establish themselves as more than just another top flight team.
Now they have five games to save themselves from another relegation and further financial doom – the club’s fans and accountants will be watching in hope rather than expectation.
With the Magpies looking destined to miss out on Champions League qualification, the financial ramifications of being absent from Europe’s elite club competition are already beginning to set in.
A host of Newcastle’s best players have already been linked with moves away in the summer with midfield duo Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes attracting significant interest.
Italy international Tonali was rumoured to be interesting Arsenal on the final day of the January transfer window, while teammate Tino Livramento is also said to have an admirer in Mikel Arteta.
The England full-back is valued at £60million by Newcastle but Shearer believes it would take almost double that to prise Gordon from St James’ Park.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have been the two wingers used by Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s left wing over the course of the last three seasons but change could well be brewing.
Should Arsenal want to pursue interest in Gordon, however, Shearer has told the north London club it would take more than the £105million they paid for Declan Rice three years ago.
Anthony Gordon has emerged as an Arsenal transfer target (Picture: Getty)
He told Betfair: ‘Well, it is quite funny because if you believe every rumour, Tino Livramento’s been linked, Lewis Hall’s been linked, Sandro Tonali has been linked, and Bruno has been linked alongside Anthony Gordon.
‘I mean, if every player leaves that’s been linked with a move, Newcastle won’t have any players left. It always happens more in the international break.
‘With all the columns, newspapers and with social media now, I guess it’s a lot worse than it perhaps was. I guess, again, because of what’s happened with Newcastle, clubs are going to try and come in and poach them if they don’t qualify for Europe, which clearly doesn’t look like they’re going to unless they go on a remarkable run.
‘It’ll be an interesting summer. I do think that clubs will come in for players and Newcastle will have to stand firm.
Gabriel Martinelli could be replaced by Anthony Gordon (Picture: Getty)
‘It seemed a lot of money at the time when Newcastle signed Gordon. But I guess you’d have to start, if you’re talking about an England international forward who’s got a really good chance of starting for England, then you’d have to probably get over £100 million to have a chance of signing Gordon.’
Newcastle, of course, have been in this position before and were eventually forced to part company with Alexander Isak in the summer after the Sweden international forced a move to Liverpool after going on strike.
Eddie Howe invested a significant portion of that transfer fee on Nick Woltemade but after a bright start the former Stuttgart centre forward has found the going tough.
‘I think it’s really early for Newcastle to sell Nick Woltemade,’ added Shearer. ‘There’s no doubt there’s talent in there. We saw that when he first arrived but for whatever reason, and I guess there are multiple reasons.
Nick Woltemade has struggled after a good start at Newcastle (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s not just playing him in midfield because at times he did look laboured and slow. At times the pace, power and energy of the Premier League looked a little bit too much for him. But there’s no doubt there’s talent and ability in there.
‘I guess it’s just about trying to get that out of him in whatever position because at the minute he hasn’t suited Newcastle and Newcastle hasn’t suited him particularly.
‘He did have a good start but we haven’t seen a lot of that, and he will say because he’s been played out of position that he hasn’t been at his best and I totally understand that and get that.
‘I guess he’s been a victim of what’s happened at Newcastle this season, unfortunately for him.’
Enzo Fernandez has been linked with a move to Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)
Enzo Fernandez’s agent says there is ‘nothing’ in speculation linking the Chelsea midfielder to Real Madrid and has revealed his client has apologised for recent controversial comments.
The World Cup winner’s agent says Fernandez had ‘no intention of causing problems’ with his comments and insists there is ‘nothing’ in speculation linking his client with a summer move.
‘We have already spoken about this over the last few days. These were comments he made with no intention of causing problems at Chelsea,’ Javier Pastore told Top Mercato.
‘He is the captain, one of the leaders of the team. He has shown his best side on the pitch this season. He only spoke about a city [Madrid]. Then there were many interviews in a short space of time where he talked about his future.
‘The media mixed a lot of things together and started saying he was going to leave Chelsea. There is nothing at all to it.
‘We are on the same wavelength with Chelsea. We made peace yesterday and the day before between Chelsea and the player. There was never really a problem. We have cleared things up.’
Fernandez’s agent Javier Pastore (Picture: Getty)
While Pastore believes Fernandez did ‘nothing wrong’, he revealed the £107m signing had apologised to Rosenior and his teammates over the ‘misunderstanding’.
The former PSG star added: ‘What happened, happened. We explained to the player that, even if he did nothing wrong, he should not have said that.
‘He is only 25 years old. He is still young and still has things to learn. We explained to the club that he said it without any malice and that he was wrong to do so.
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‘He naturally apologised to the club, his teammates, the manager, the sporting director, everyone. We are all on the same page. It was simply a matter of clearing up a misunderstanding.’
Chelsea lost back-to-back Premier League games as well as crashing out of the Champions League before the international break.
Looking ahead of the run-in, Pastore said: ‘Chelsea are playing for a Champions League place through the Premier League, which is hugely important for the club.
‘Enzo needs to play because he has a World Cup coming up. Chelsea need him because he is a key player in their team.
‘We spoke, we sorted everything out on both sides. Things are perfectly clear. There is no conflict whatsoever.
‘Enzo still has six years on his contract and we need to work together — that is what we are doing.’
