Arteta on the fitness of Rice and Califiori, Gabriel Jesus and five years as Gunners boss
Mikel Arteta says Declan Rice and Riccardo Califiori are both available for Arsenal’s trip to Crystal Palace and is confident Oleksandr Zinchenko could join them.
Rice missed Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Palace in the Carabao Cup due to an unspecified problem, with Califiori absent since a 5-2 win over West Ham last month.
“They are both available,” Arteta confirmed in the pre-match press conference on Friday.
And when asked about Zinchenko, who hasn’t been seen since the 2-0 win over Manchester United, he added: “I think he might be available.”
Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick at the Emirates on Wednesday, marking the first time he has scored at home in more than a year, while he is yet to open a Premier League account this season.
Speaking about the No9, Arteta said: “He was really happy because he helped the team reach the semi-finals and that was what we wanted.”
“You can see his immediate reaction, a big smile on his face and that’s what we need from everyone to perform at their best and Gabi (Jesus) definitely had that.”
“He’s looked really good since returning from pre-season. After a setback, he started playing and showed some good performances without scoring. What he did the other day is exactly what we need in our nine.”
Arteta celebrates his fifth anniversary as Arsenal manager this weekend, transforming the Gunners from a struggling team back into one of England’s top forces.
On their growth in five years, the Spaniard said: “The unity, the connection and the fact that we are currently competing on big fronts.” We haven’t managed that in the last few years, so that’s positive.
“I am here because I am very passionate about what I do and because I love this football club. I try to be the best version every day.
“Things like this take time. There was a connection with the fans here because I was a player and captain here, but after going through different situations together, it gave the relationship momentum.”
“I really enjoy working with the people I work with every day. We have built something together and everyone has made a big contribution to it, and the fact that everyone is hungry and ambitious shows that we now have to go to another level. ”
