Riccardo Calafiori is back in training, but Arsenal still do not know if he will be available against Burnley. Mikel Arteta said after the West Ham win that he does not know whether Calafiori will make it, and the timing matters with Ben White already ruled out and more defensive questions still hanging over the side.

What Arteta said about Calafiori and the wider defence

Calafiori was substituted at half-time of Arsenal’s win over West Ham, which is why the training return is useful but not definitive. Arteta’s wording was careful: “No, we don't know whether he's going to be available now. We still have days ahead. Hopefully, it's nothing serious, but we'll have to wait and see how he reacts.”

He also added, “We lost Ben the other day but the others are coming back as well. I'm so enthusiastic, so positive.” That is the right tone for a manager heading into a tight run-in, but the squad picture is still messy. Sky Sports reported no signs of William Saliba, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka in training, although the trio were doing individual work.

Arsenal still have decisions to make before Burnley

The same source material points to a back line that is not settled. White is expected to miss the remainder of the season after a knee injury, while Jurrien Timber has progressed a little in the last few days and Arsenal will try to get him back. That is some help, but not enough to remove the uncertainty around Sunday.

The table also leaves little room for a slip. Arsenal are top of the Premier League on 79 points from 36 matches, with Manchester City second on 74 from 35. Their recent league form is WWWLL, which is a decent cushion on paper but not the sort of sequence that invites complacency. Burnley’s recent league form is LLL, and Arsenal beat them 2-0 in the most recent head-to-head listed.

Calafiori’s own West Ham outing was short, with a 6.5 rating across 45 minutes before the withdrawal. That makes the training return a welcome sign, not a guarantee. The sensible read is straightforward: Arsenal have one clear boost, but Arteta is still managing a defensive picture that could change again before Burnley.

If Calafiori is fit enough to be involved, Arsenal gain another option. If he is not, the title run-in gets a little more awkward, with Burnley next on May 18 and a squad already missing White and carrying doubts elsewhere.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 9 outlets. How we work →