It’s a busier-than-usual Thursday of press conferences, with seven Premier League managers providing us with their latest team news ahead of Gameweek 38.
Mikel Arteta is among the top-flight bosses speaking to journalists ahead of Arsenal’s final-day dead rubber.
This live blog will house all of the key injury updates throughout the day. Keep coming back here for the latest quotes.
The managers of the other 13 Premier League teams should be facing the media on Friday.
KEY GAMEWEEK 38 TEAM NEWS FROM THURSDAY
- Arsenal: Merino to start training, Timber potentially to follow suit
- Crystal Palace: Richards out, Glasner on rotation
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Wieffer “an option”, Mitoma out, no new injury concerns
- Nottingham Forest: Murillo still out, Aina on the grass, Ndoye trains
- Burnley: Roberts pushing for minutes, Jackson on going strong v handing out minutes
THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
Thursday’s FPL Press Conferences! 🚨
🕊️ 9am – Hurzeler
⭕️ 1.30pm – Arteta
🍷 1.30pm – Jackson
🌳 2.30pm – Pereira
🦅 2.45pm – Glasner
👹 5pm – Carrick
🐝 5.30pm – Andrews pic.twitter.com/YRQzvyDyQ9— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) May 21, 2026
ARSENAL
Mikel Merino (foot) is aiming to return to full training on Friday, while Jurrien Timber (ankle) could follow suit over the coming days – although Mikel Arteta did say that the Dutchman was behind his teammate in his recovery.
“I think Mikel is going to start to train with the group tomorrow. Today he has done a little bit, it was just a light session, obviously.
“Jurrien, let’s hope he can do the same in the next few days but he’s still a little bit further behind Mikel at the moment.” – Mikel Arteta
Ben White is out for the season after suffering a “significant” knee injury in the win over West Ham United.
There we no other injuries reported in Arteta’s presser.
Bukayo Saka, David Raya and William Saliba were all absent from team training on Thursday but reports suggest they were doing individual work. Max Dowman was also missing – because he is sitting his GCSEs!
With the title in the bag, Arteta was asked about his side’s preparations for Gameweek 38 and, more importantly from the Gunners’ perspective, the UEFA Champions League final a week later.
Alas, the Arsenal boss wasn’t much use when it came to helping us guess who he might send out in Gameweek 38.
“We had 48 hours to enjoy the success of winning the league. Now, tomorrow and Saturday, we’re going to prepare really well because we need to now lift again our habits and the standards that we normally do things to be in the best possible way to compete on Sunday.
“We’ll have a little window then again to celebrate, to lift the trophy in the manner that deserves it, to connect with the people that we have constantly around us, but then we have six days to write a new history in this football club.” – Mikel Arteta
CRYSTAL PALACE
Chris Richards will miss Gameweek 38 with the ankle issue he picked up at the weekend.
“Chris will miss the Arsenal game as well, and it’s now 50/50 for him and for us if he can play in the final at Leipzig.
“He tore two ligaments in his ankle. It’s stable, but quite swollen, and we have to deal with the swelling. He needs to get back on the pitch to be available, and it will be a race against time.
“He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments and everything we can do that reduces the swelling. Of course, we have a great medical department. So again, we will give our best and he will give his best – and then let’s see if we can get it done.” – Oliver Glasner on Chris Richards
Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) and Cheick Doucoure (knee/muscle/match fitness) remain out but Borna Sosa (unspecified) has been training this week.
Away from injuries, there’s again a question mark over how much Oliver Glasner rotated – and it sounds like he himself hasn’t decided that.
“For us, it makes it a bit easier that the league is already decided, just regarding the questions about preparations… because I mentioned we have to think just about what’s best for us, to be in the best possible shape on Wednesday.
“I am not finally decided finally what we’re going to do. A few things to consider. The weather has changed – it should be 29 degrees on Sunday afternoon and also quite hot at Leipzig, where it could go to extra-time. What’s best? Can players play 90 and 120 again within three days at the end of the season or is better to rotate more? Is it better that players stay in rhythm, and then we just have five subs?
“Many things to decide, but I’m pretty sure we will find the best way.
“I change my opinion three times a day right now, from full rotation, to no rotation, to half rotation! And every starting line-up has positive sides and negative sides.
“I personally have so many negative experiences with big rotations. I mentioned this, and one we all experienced this season was KuPS [Kuopio] and Leeds two days later. I started two [separate XIs] within two days, and it was one of our worst performances at Leeds with, on paper, 11 fresh players.
“I had this two or three times before at my other clubs. That’s why I think we won’t rotate 11 players, but of course, it makes sense for a few to see how they are, probably playing 45 minutes each, making two or three subs at half-time, staying in rhythm. This is how it looks like.” – Oliver Glasner
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Mats Wieffer looks set to return this weekend after missing the last two Brighton matches with a niggling ankle issue.
Kaoru Mitoma had already been ruled out for the rest of the season with the hamstring injury he sustained in Gameweek 36.
Stefanos Tzimas and Adam Webster (both knee) are long-term absentees.
Aside from that, however, Fabian Hurzeler has no other concerns for the visit of Manchester United.
“No new injury concerns, so that’s positive.
“Mats Wieffer is an option to come back, and all the other players, they are available.” – Fabian Hurzeler
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Murillo (muscle) remains out for the Tricky Trees.
Ola Aina is back on the grass as of today, however, while Dan Ndoye has “worked twice with the team”. Both have been absent recently with unspecified issues.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (muscle), Willy Boly (knee) and Nicola Savona (knee) remain out.
Quotes to follow
BURNLEY
Josh Cullen (knee) and Jordan Beyer (hamstring) remain out for the Clarets.
However, another long-term absentee, Connor Roberts (Achilles), is pushing for inclusion, having ended a near-season-long spell on the sidelines with a run-out of the under-21s in the last week.
“He came [through the under-21s match] alright. He’s been involved in full training this week. He is good.
“Knowing Connor, [he will be pushing for minutes at the weekend].” – Mike Jackson
Ashley Barnes, who has been absent recently with a muscle issue, will bid farewell to Turf Moor after the end of this season – but it’s still questionable whether he’s going to be involved against Wolves.
“Barnesy’s away on his coaching course at this moment at time, so we just have to have a look at all the squad, what we need for the game, how we can make sure we get certain some players some time, as well as being really competitive in the game. First and foremost, that’s the most important [thing].
“In an ideal world, you’d want to look at maybe one or two younger ones, some ones who haven’t really played a lot of game-time. It’s difficult… making sure people get on the pitch and on the bench. It’s the worst part of the job, having to pick teams and leave people out.” – Mike Jackson on striking the balance between giving minutes to departing players and remaining competitive
“Nobody wants to finish bottom of the league, so that’s our full focus. We’ll be on that now.
“I just want us to stay where we’ve been in the last two games. I don’t really want to come away from that, in terms of the way we’ve gone and approached the games. That needs to stay, definitely. Obviously. you’re looking at how you can give people some minutes, manipulate the squad a little bit. But it’s tricky, and it’s something I have to sit down and have a look at in the next couple of days.” – Mike Jackson
There was no indication as to whether Martin Dubravka would return between the posts, on what could be his final Burnley game.
“I honestly don’t know whether Martin’s going to stay or go.” – Mike Jackson
- READ MORE: What’s at stake in each FPL Gameweek 38 fixture?
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