Premier League Gameweek 5: Arteta Confident in Arsenal's Defensive Depth

The final wave of Premier League press conferences before Gameweek 5 rolled through on Friday, with Mikel Arteta, Fabian Hurzeler and Fulham’s camp setting the tone for the weekend. Injuries, returns and a few intriguing selection hints – all dropped in the usual calm before the storm.

Arsenal: Arteta bullish on defensive depth

Mikel Arteta cut a confident figure as he talked through Arsenal’s fitness picture, particularly at the back.

Ben White, who looked to be struggling with a groin issue in the win over Sunderland, appears to have come through unscathed. Arteta didn’t flinch when asked directly about the defender.

“They are all good, we have another training session this afternoon, so we are really positive about everybody,” he said when pressed on White’s condition.

The same upbeat tone carried over to Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera and Jurrien Timber. All three missed the midweek Carabao Cup win over Ipswich Town, with Timber’s absence previously explained as part of his minutes management rather than a fresh setback.

“Yeah, we have another session, they are all willing to be part of it, and we have another session to try to make sure that they are fit,” Arteta added, confirming that Hincapie, Mosquera and Timber were included in his “all good” assessment.

One notable absentee remains: William Saliba is still out with a back problem, leaving Arteta to lean heavily on the rest of his defensive core.

Away from the injury board, Arteta spent time praising Ezri Konsa, both as a player and as a personality in the dressing room.

“I heard some great things about Ezri before he joined and when you have him daily you just realise the magnitude of the player that we signed, not only the player but the person, the way he presents himself, the way he’s able to connect with people immediately,” Arteta said.

He highlighted Konsa’s bond with “Big Gabi”, describing the pair as if they had “been here for a long, long, long time together”, and underlined how important that partnership is on the pitch. Konsa’s attributes, he stressed, “really make us better”.

Arteta also touched on Eberechi Eze’s role from the left, making it clear that this is no experiment for the playmaker.

“He’s always played there in his career, that’s where all his biggest moments in his career and the highlights of his career have come and I think it’s a place that he feels very, very, very comfortable,” Arteta said.

He pointed out that Eze can still drift into different areas, but that the left-sided role has historically produced his biggest moments. When it comes to choosing between Eze and Christos Tzolis on that flank, Arteta insisted the call depends on “in form, in the opponent, in the relationship that we have within that unit, there are a lot of factors”.

The message from Arsenal? Competition is fierce, options are back, and the defensive jigsaw finally looks close to complete – even with Saliba still missing.

Brighton: Azeez waits, Vuskovic ready, Dunk back in

At Brighton, Fabian Hurzeler will have to wait a little longer to unleash Femi Azeez.

The summer signing is still sidelined with a hamstring issue and won’t feature before the international break. Hurzeler wants the lay-off to become a reset.

“I think that the best thing for Femi is that he uses this [international break] to get back on his highest physical level and then get used to our style of play,” the Brighton boss explained. The plan is clear: individual work now, full integration after the break. “Then, we will try to work with him individually and hopefully integrate him back into the team, then definitely after the international break, he will be on a top level and we can use him in games.”

He’s not the only one missing. Mats Wieffer (knee), Jack Hinshelwood, Yankuba Minteh (leg), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring), Stefanos Tzimas (knee) and Zadok Yohanna are all still out. It’s a lengthy list for Hurzeler to juggle.

The good news arrives in defence. Jaouen Hadjam is “able to play” after a midweek knock, while Luka Vuskovic has been cleared after suffering only cramp in the 3-2 Carabao Cup win over Manchester United.

“He’s young, he will recover fast. He definitely will be an option for tomorrow,” Hurzeler said of Vuskovic, who has quickly become a useful piece in Brighton’s back line.

Lewis Dunk, rested entirely for that cup tie at Old Trafford, is also back in the frame. His return restores experience and authority at the heart of the defence, just as Brighton navigate a busy early-season schedule.

There was another quiet positive: Georginio Rutter made his comeback from injury off the bench in the Carabao Cup third round, a timely boost as Hurzeler tries to balance creativity with control.

Brighton still look stretched, but not broken. And with Dunk anchoring things again and Vuskovic available, the spine has enough steel to carry them into the break.

Fulham: Tete ruled out under concussion protocol

At Fulham, the headlines are more straightforward – and more frustrating.

Kenny Tete will miss the weekend as he follows the concussion protocol after a head injury. There’s no shortcut there, no gamble to be taken, and his absence strips Fulham of a reliable, experienced option on the right side of defence.

Tom Cairney, a long-standing creative heartbeat for the club, remains out with a knee issue. Without him, Fulham lose a measure of control and calm in midfield, especially in tight matches where his passing can tilt the rhythm.

Two key senior figures out, a demanding league table already taking shape, and another test looming. For Marco Silva’s side, the question is simple: who steps up now, with the margins already starting to shrink in Gameweek 5?