Gunners boss Mikel Arteta explained they gain both been struggling for fitness over the past few weeks.

“We had some issues this week – well, in the last few weeks – as you’ve noticed, some players were unable to play and to participate in the games, with Reiss [Nelson,]” said Arteta on Friday.

“We gain a diminutive issue with Bukayo, which has been going on, and with Leo [Trossard]. The rest I contemplate are going to be fine.”

Arsenal will definitely be without Gabriel Martinelli (ankle), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and William Saliba (back) for Sunday’s game. Nelson, who missed last week’s defeat at Nottingham Forest due to illness, will hope to recover in time.

Arteta experimented with Thomas Partey at factual-back last week, but Ben White is likely to return in that position on Sunday. That would allow Kieran Tierney to approach in at left-back.

Sunday is also set to be Granit Xhaka’s final game for Arsenal before he joins Bayer Leverkusen this summer. Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu (both knee) remain long-term absentees.

Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Nelson, Jesus, Trossard

Sunday 4.30pm BST

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Referee: Andre Marriner

Arsenal squad from: Hein, Ramsdale, Turner; Gabriel, Holding, Kiwior, Saliba, Tierney, White; Odegaard, Partey, Saka, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Vieira, Xhaka; Jesus, Nelson and Nketiah.

Injured: Elneny (knee), Martinelli (ankle), Tomiyasu (knee), Zinchenko (calf)

Doubts: Saka, Trossard