Availability remains uncertain ahead of Arsenal
Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz could be available for the match against Arsenal, but Andoni Iraola hasn’t confirmed that either will play. Both remain doubts: Szoboszlai is managing a hamstring issue, while Munoz has a knee problem. Iraola’s wording leaves open the possibility that they’ll be involved, without offering a clear indication of whether they’re ready to start or could feature from the bench.
“They have a chance” is useful, but it’s a narrow update. It tells supporters that neither player has been ruled out, while the manager’s reference to the time remaining makes clear that the decision hasn’t been made. For a team preparing for a demanding fixture, that uncertainty affects more than the final list of names: it can shape training, tactical preparation and the alternatives considered for each position.
“I think they have a chance. They have a chance, but I don’t know for sure if they will be involved or not. We still have two days. So, I think we have a chance, yes.” – Andoni Iraola on Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz
A hamstring problem and a knee issue don’t offer enough detail to judge how close either player is to full fitness. The source gives no description of the severity, the treatment plan or how either responded to training. That means any confident prediction about their minutes would go beyond what Iraola has said. The practical reading is simple: keep both in the doubtful category until there’s a firmer update.
Wirtz is back, but absences remain
Florian Wirtz has recovered quickly from the ankle issue he picked up in Gameweek 8 and has already featured in the EFL Cup. His return is a positive update, though one appearance doesn’t by itself establish how much he’ll be asked to play in the next match. Managers often have to judge fitness in stages, balancing a player’s return to action against the demands of another fixture.
The available information also identifies four players who remain unavailable: Hugo Ekitike with an Achilles problem, Conor Bradley with a knee issue, Jeremie Frimpong with a hamstring problem and Giovanni Leoni with a knee issue. No return dates are given, so it’s not possible to say when any of them might be back. Their absence leaves the squad with fewer options, making the status of the two possible returnees more relevant to Iraola’s choices.
Injury lists can make a squad’s situation look more straightforward than it is. A player who’s recovered may still need careful minutes management, while someone described as having “a chance” may not be ready to start. The source doesn’t spell out those distinctions for Wirtz, Szoboszlai or Munoz. That uncertainty matters for anyone trying to anticipate the lineup: availability and selection are related, but they aren’t the same thing.
Rotation likely to continue
Iraola expects to keep rotating his team because the schedule is crowded. He says staff are using video analysis to help players prepare without adding to their physical workload, then considering how to manage freshness between matches. The approach reflects a familiar coaching problem: players need enough preparation to understand their roles, but extra time on the pitch can add to the strain of a packed run of fixtures.
Video work can cover information that would otherwise require some on-field repetition, such as reviewing opponents and clarifying tactical responsibilities. It can’t replace physical training altogether, and Iraola hasn’t suggested that it does. His comments instead describe one way the staff are trying to control the demands placed on the squad while continuing to change the team from match to match.
“I think we are changing a lot from game to game and I think we will continue this approach.” That’s a direct indication that rotation is expected to persist. It doesn’t identify which positions will change or whether the same players will be rested each time. The selection picture will depend on availability, freshness and the manager’s assessment of the next opponent.
“I think we are changing a lot from game to game and I think we will continue this approach.” – Andoni Iraola on the busy schedule
What the uncertainty means for selection
For readers tracking team news, the main distinction is between a hopeful update and a confirmed return. Szoboszlai and Munoz have a chance of being involved, but Iraola hasn’t committed to either. Wirtz has already played again after his ankle issue, while Ekitike, Bradley, Frimpong and Leoni remain unavailable. Those are the clearest signals in the update, and they still leave room for changes before the match.
This is more significant than it looks for lineup predictions. When several players are absent and others are not yet certain, rotation can become a matter of necessity as much as preference. If you’re working out likely selections, treat the manager’s comments as a snapshot of the situation, not a promise about the starting team. The final choices may depend on assessments made closer to kick-off.
(And this is the part most people overlook.) Managing freshness isn’t only about resting players; it also means deciding how much preparation and playing time each available player can handle. A return to the matchday squad could still mean limited involvement, and a player who doesn’t feature may simply need more time. The update doesn’t resolve those questions.
For now, the outlook is cautious. Two players remain possible, one has already returned to action, and four are still sidelined. Iraola expects rotation to continue as the schedule bears down on the squad. The next team update should clarify whether “a chance” turns into involvement, but until then, the selection picture remains open.
- READ MORE: Press conferences for Gameweek 9
