Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that several first-team players are doubtful for Saturday’s Premier League visit to Aston Villa.

Speaking at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday, Arteta said the final training session will be crucial in determining his squad for the early kick-off at Villa Park.

“Let’s see. I think with all the questions I’m going to get, the answer, unfortunately, is going to be the same,” he said. “We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players. After that, we’ll decide which ones.”

Arteta highlighted defender Mosquera as facing the toughest race to be fit, while offering cautious optimism over William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.

“It is a matter of days with those two, for sure,” he said. On Declan Rice, he repeated, “Let’s see… we have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players.”

Looking ahead to Villa, Arteta praised their form under manager Unai Emery. “For what they’ve been doing, the way they’ve been playing and winning matches, certainly it’s a team that is in great form and we know that. We know obviously the manager and the incredible job he’s done there as well, so we know the task tomorrow but we always take it as an opportunity,” he said.

He dismissed suggestions that Emery’s Arsenal past might add extra motivation, saying: “I don’t know… in my opinion, he never needs anything extra. I think he’s good enough in himself.”

With Arsenal entering a key phase of the season, Arteta stressed the importance of consistency and squad depth. “Consistency, again, to perform at the highest level and win another game… that’s exactly how we have to take it every game,” he said.

Reflecting on his strengthened squad, he added, “Great… when you look at the bench and you can say, now we can change the game. Last year, from February to May, we had two players, really, so that’s a huge difference.”

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