Arsenal's Rice, Saka and Zubimendi available for Community Shield, Arteta reveals

[p]The ‌trio have linked up with the squad and could feature despite missing the pre-season ‌programme.[/p][p][b]"They will be available; they trained with us today, ‌they will train tomorrow, and if they are in the condition we ‌expect them to be in, they will be involved,"[/b] Arteta ‌told reporters.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saka-bukayo/08NLEo06/"]Saka[/a] managed an Achilles issue late last season, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]Rice[/a] revealed during the World Cup that he had been dealing with hamstring-related neural pain ‌since December before also suffering a knee problem.[/p][p]Arteta ⁠said a period of rest ‌had helped both players ahead of the new campaign and added that ​captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/odegaard-martin/ID32TGhp/"]Martin Odegaard[/a] was also well placed to regain consistency after an injury-hit season.[/p][p][b]"With him (Odegaard) and Bukayo as well, ​I see something else. Obviously they had some issues last year and they couldn't have the consistency levels that they know ⁠they can bring to ​the team,"[/b] the 44-year-old manager said.[/p][embed guid="348d8570-0114-446b-9d66-fe4ac45fefd0" url="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/2088268685886787855" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"So there is a big margin and a big gap there that I think the team is going to benefit from because I can see the desire in them."[/b][/p][p]Odegaard ‌endured a disrupted campaign last season due to recurring knee, muscle and shoulder injuries, making only 16 Premier League starts.[/p][p]Arteta also provided an update on defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/timber-jurrien/hSaoLOM4/"]Jurrien Timber[/a], who is recovering from a groin injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, saying the Dutchman was making good progress but was still weeks away from a return.[/p][p][b]"Jurrien is progressing really well, he is on the pitch," [/b]Arteta said.[/p][p][b]"We are ramping up now with certain ‌actions and especially the volume and the load, and I ​think he is on a good trajectory, but there are ‌still a few weeks to go.[/b][/p][p][b]"He needs to start training with the group in the next week or so, hopefully, and then see how he progresses from there."[/b][/p][p]Centre-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saliba-william/EgIM3sB7/"]William Saliba[/a], meanwhile, remains sidelined with a back injury sustained during the ⁠World Cup.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] will start ⁠their Premier League campaign against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/coventry/GOvB22xg/"]‌Coventry City[/a] on August 21.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=jNXdfeGb"]Follow Arsenal vs Man City with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]