Arsenal stars Leandro Trossard and Martin Zubimendi had been doubts for the Gunners’ season opener against Manchester United on Sunday but Mikel Arteta has provided a hugely positive update
Mikel Arteta is confident that both Leondro Trossard and new signing Martin Zubimendi WILL be available against Manchester United. The Gunners begin their new Premier League season with a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday and there’ve been doubts over whether the pair would feature.
Trossard, 30, missed Arsenal‘s final two friendlies with a muscle injury while 26-year-old Zubimendi wasn’t seen in any images from the club’s media day ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Spain international Zubimendi has been signed to take Arsenal to the next level and improve their midfield.
The playmaker cost £55.8million from Real Sociedad, making him the Gunners’ second-most expensive signing of the summer transfer window. And it’s good news for fans wanting to see him in competitive action for the first time, having shown glimpses of his quality in pre-season.
“Yes, he had a great integration,” Arteta told reporters when asked if Zubimendi would be available. “As everybody can see this immediately, he’s had a very big impact on the team. I’m really happy and he will be fit.
Trossard, who’s been linked with a move away this summer, is expected to join him in Arsenal’s matchday squad. “Yeah, I think he’s much better,” Arteta added. “I think he will be able to train again tomorrow (Saturday) and if that’s the case, he will be fit.”
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The Gunners manager will have numerous difficult decisions to make when he selects his starting XI. The most noteworthy is who’ll get the nod up front?
Viktor Gyokeres has arrived in a deal which could rise to £63.7m but Kai Havertz is back in contention after missing most of the second half of last term through injury. Asked whether it’s a fight between Gyokeres and Havertz for the No.9 position, Arteta replied: “It’s always good.
“I play with 11 players, there are going to be some players on the bench that are going to be used, some others that cannot be used, some players that we’re going to have to leave in the stands. That’s the next level that we’re going to face, something that we probably haven’t faced before.
How should Arsenal line up against Manchester United? Let us know your starting XI in the comments section.
“I’ve heard a lot that you have two players per position, well we have three and four because there are players that can play in different positions as well. It’s going to be about earning the right to play, to compete and when you don’t have the chance to do that, to cooperate in the right way with any teammate to improve the level.
“It’s going to happen to all of them because the season is going to be so demanding that the first week is going to be a little bit different. But the moment we start to play three times a week, it’s going to flow in a really natural way.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
