Now whether this is mind games rather than truth won’t become clear until final team news is released tomorrow a couple of hours before kick off, but there are strong rumours today that Mikel Arteta has damaged his ribs in training and is very doubtful for tomorrows derby. This news has apparently come from blue rather than red sources, but as scaremongering is always rife with this sort of game then I’ll happily take it with a large pinch of salt for now and hope to see Mikky lining up with the rest of the lads before kick off.
If Arteta were to be ruled out of tomorrow’s match then Castillo seems a likely replacement in the centre of midfield, although playmaking spanish magician – he is not! Perhaps Gosling could come in as a replacement and Osman move into the middle? To be honest, whether Arteta plays or someone else fills in, it will still be a tough match, although on his current form, I would much rather we had him in the starting 11 than not.
As with all such last minute news, only time will tell if this rumour has any truth to it.
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