Double Arsenal injury update as Mikel Arteta drops 'no chance' remark for West Ham

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber have "no chance" of featuring against West Ham United this weekend.

The Gunners duo have been unavailable for numerous weeks each, and while their exact return date is unclear, Arteta did at least confirm that no fresh injuries have been suffered.

Speaking on Merino and Timber, he said: "No chance for them this weekend." When asked if either will play again this season, he replied: "I don't know there is still a fair bit to do. Everything needs to be so smooth and quick."

Discussing Timber's ankle injury further and if it has proven to be a more complicated problem than expected, Arteta added: "Yes and that has probably been the most difficult thing to manage, with the player, with myself as well. We didn't expect it to take so long and he's not fit to play."

Merino has been absent since injuring his foot in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in January, while Timber has missed Arsenal's last 11 matches after suffering the ankle issue in the 2-0 win against Everton in March.

The Gunners head to West Ham looking to put one hand on the Premier League trophy. Dependent on Manchester City's result against Brentford on Saturday, Arteta's side could all-but secure their first top-flight title in 22 years should they travel to the London Stadium and claim all three points.

They go into the trip to the Hammers off the back of a fine run of results. Back-to-back Premier League wins were followed up with a victory against Atletico Madrid which sealed their progression to the Champions League final.

Bukayo Saka's first-half goal secured a 1-0 win over Atletico on the night and a 2-1 success on aggregate, and there were wild celebrations post-match as the Gunners booked a head-to-head against Paris Saint-Germain this month.

Asked what he told his players in the dressing room amid jubilant scenes on the pitch, Arteta quipped: "We talked immediately after the game, we earn it, we have time to prepare and get ready for the final. But now the focus, the attention and the detail has to be put into West Ham."

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