Sunderland vs Arsenal: Arteta gives injury update and responds to Gunners’ players on Ballon d’Or list
By Luke Oluoch, September 11, 2026Mikel Arteta’s pre-match conference for the Gunners took place on Friday, September 11, 2026, with the Spaniard speaking on a range of topics concerning the club. The supercomputer ranked the team as favourite for the English Premier League.
The gaffer delivered a team news update for the upcoming clash, confirming that despite Jurrien Timber’s return, the defender will need more time to get fully back into the first-team fold.
“He is doing good and well; he is in good shape. Let us see if he gets another training session,” he stated.
He reported that Ben White was fine despite being seen limping in a past clash, while Cristian Mosquera is also nearing a return to full fitness.
Ballon d’Or shortlist
Arteta also spoke on Arsenal having five players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, terming the recognition as a testament to the competitiveness and stature of the club.
On having multiple Arsenal players make the prestigious list, Arteta said, “It says a lot about where the club is at the moment, how well we are doing, and the consistency we have shown. Those individual awards reflect what the club has done as a team, and it is good to see the players recognised in the major awards.”
Addressing Kai Havertz’s favoured position and his best qualities as a player, the Arsenal boss emphasised the German’s tactical versatility:
What is Havertz’s best position?
“The best position is in relation to what the game and the team demand on the day. Do we have to be as efficient as possible and as intelligent as possible? Kai is very intelligent; he understands the game, he acts rather than just thinks, and he makes the people around him better,” he stated.
Arteta also added that the German’s capacity to help teammates excel, create chances, score goals, and contribute defensively when Arsenal are out of possession makes him a standout player.
On Saturday’s opponent, Sunderland AFC:
“We will be on the pitch and try to be better than the opponent and compete. Last year we dropped the points there in the last minute, and we have discussed many things about the game ahead of us,” he added.
The Gunners travel to face the Black Cat on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10:00 pm