Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Kieran Tierney is unlikely to be available for Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa after failing to recover from a leg injury.

Asked about the prospect of the Scottish international returning soon, the Gunners boss said he wasn’t anywhere near ready to play, and they are still waiting to see whether a return this weekend is possible:

“He wasn’t close at all [to play against Wolves]. Hopefully in the next few days, he will feel much better and will come in the team and help us in this moment when we have so many games.”

Arteta also confirmed that loanee Matty Ryan is fighting a battle to be fit for the Villa game due to a muscular injury. The Australian international would be in line for a start after Bernd Leno’s red card against Wolves, but there are no guarantees that he’ll be back to full fitness by Saturday.

Thankfully, for Arsenal fans, the club’s injury list is pretty short now. Pablo Mari was not in the matchday squad for last night’s defeat at Molineux but he is back in full training after recovering from a calf problem.