Eddie Nketiah training absence explained ahead of Arsenal vs Sevilla

Mikel Arteta has been handed yet another fresh Arsenal injury blow in the lead up to a Champions League clash with Sevilla at Emirates Stadium. On Saturday, the Gunners suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season to Newcastle at St. James' Park, four days after their Carabao Cup exit at the hands of West Ham, with the loss shrouded in controversy.

With that goal deciding the game, Arteta was left seething and he certainly did not hold back in his post-match press conference as a result. "We have to talk about the result because you have to talk about how the hell this goal stand ups and it’s incredible," he said.

"I feel embarrassed but I have to be the one now coming here to try to defend the club and please ask for help, because it's an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed; it’s an absolute disgrace." Arteta has been dealt an unfortunate hand in the past week with the Hammers' opening goal in the cup last week also controversial, however VAR was unable to intervene as it is not in play until the semi-final of that competition.

Injuries have also been a common thorn in the side of the Arsenal manager with Thomas Partey again on the shelf and he has recently been joined by Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe. The two attackers both missed the trip to Tyneside with Odegaard nursing a hip injury and Smith Rowe picking up a new knock in his likely to keep him sidelined for a number of weeks.

Any positive news on either seems unlikely as they were both not spotted in Arsenal's open training session at London Colney with another key senior star not seen in training. Eddie Nketiah was withdrawn from the clash with Newcastle in the 79th minute with it appearing as though Arteta was trying a different approach, but his training absence ahead of the Sevilla game suggests otherwise.

Thankfully for Arsenal, football.london understands the striker is nursing a knock he picked up during the Newcastle defeat. It's believed the knock is not serious and he could still be involved against Sevilla. That would explain why Arteta offered a minimal injury update in his Tuesday morning press conference, only confirming Gabriel Jesus will not make the game and that Odegaard's availability is unclear.

With Jesus out, Nketiah being available is hugely important and him missing training is likely as a precaution in the hopes he can recover further ahead of the Sevilla clash on Wednesday night