Arsenal returned to Premier League action with a dominant 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.
Two goals from Martin Zubimendi and one for Viktor Gyokeres was the perfect comeback for Arteta after signing off for the international break with a defeat at Liverpool.
A key boxed ticked for the Basque coach, ahead of a midweek trip to Bilbao, where his side start their UEFA Champions League campaign against Athletic Club on September 16.
Despite the result, Arteta suffered another blow, with captain Martin Odegaard forced off with a recurrent shoulder injury.
The Norway star started on the bench at Anfield on August 31, after suffering the initial injury against Leeds United the week before, but he started both of Norway’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the break.
Arteta admitted he was unsure if the former Real Sociedad schemer would be fit in time with Bukayo Saka expected to miss out.
“We don’t know what has happened just yet, it looks like the same area as the previous injury. But the rest of the team are good. We still have some others who are not available, but we are OK,” as per BBC Sport.
“We have a lot of games so we need everybody, we are going to have to rotate the team and keep the freshness and the spirit very high.
“We have a beautiful game to play now in Bilbao, very close to my home town and I know how it is going to be..
Despite the concern over Saka and Odegaard, Arteta was more upbeat over William Saliba’s readiness after resting him against Forest.
“He trained yesterday, did the whole session, and was OK. I spoke to him afterwards, and he said ‘I think I need a few more days’. The turnaround has been too quick given the extent of his injury.
“When a player says that, don’t push it.”
