Mikel Arteta says that Eberechi Eze is available for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth following a calf injury.
The England international has been out since suffering the injury in Arsenal’s Champions League round of 16 second leg win over Bayer Leverkusen on March 17, but returned to training on Thursday, April 9. He was initially expected to be out for at least a month, and Arteta said the midfielder’s recovery surprised him “in a really powerful way”.
The Arsenal manager had previously spoken about “understanding” Eze more when the 27-year-old hit form before this injury, and asked if he had grown a deeper understanding during this spell on the sidelines, Arteta said: “One of them, I didn’t know that he was so determined, obsessed and willing to push his body.
“I didn’t know that part of him and he really surprised me in a really powerful way. How much he loves the game. When you take someone’s opportunity to play, you really see their reaction and his was… wow.
“How involved he was in and around the team, the energy that he brings everyday in the building. Then we use that time as well to identify areas that we can impact the game, get his open opinion on where he sees himself, where he’s more comfortable, what he sees with the team. I think we used that time in a really good way.”
Eze had scored four goals in the seven games he played before picking up this calf injury. He was deployed more centrally, closer to the opposition penalty box, and asked whether these were the areas identified during this spell out, Arteta said: “That’s on the attacking side, but there are other areas that he didn’t feel were that important, or that we discussed that he hasn’t in other teams as vital and important to change games or win matches. He recognises that (now). He’s such an intelligent person and it’s so easy to talk to him.”
Arteta was less definitive over the availability of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of this weekend, but did have an update on long-term absentee Mikel Merino.
“He’s another one that is going to push every boundary,” he added. “He’s out of his boot now, he’s doing quite a lot of exercises already. He’s reacted really well to the surgery; he’s got no pain. It’s more for the medical staff to go a bit further on that but I’m sure there is a chance to make that period shorter. If there is a person that can do it, I’m sure that’s going to be Mikel again.”
Arteta also reiterated his commitment to Arsenal after facing question over his future at the club, with his contract running until the end of next season.
“I’m fully committed here,” he added. “I’m really happy and I feel good. My family is good. I still have so much ambition and things to do in this football club and for now we are in a good place.”
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