ARSENAL’S Champions League preparations were thrown into chaos when they were left stranded at Luton Airport tonight.
Mikel Arteta and his 23-man squad were stuck in the departure lounge for more than four hours due to their private plane being grounded by the storms which battered the south of England.
They were due to arrive in Lille at 5pm UK time ahead of a 40 minute drive to Lens but Arteta’s scheduled press conference was cancelled because he was running so late.
But the club will not face any punishment from UEFA because the delay was not their fault.
Defender William Saliba: “I don’t know what’s happening. Maybe because it’s raining in England or France so we cannot fly and we are still in London.
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“First of all we have to get to Lens but I’m confident the delay won’t affect us and we will give our best in the game.
“We know it won’t be an easy game. Lens are a really good team who finished second in the French League last season.
“They didn’t start this season well but they have improved in their last few games so we have to be fully focussed.”
Thomas Partey was among the travelling party and is in line to make a surprise return to action on Tuesday night.
The Ghanaian international midfielder has missed the last six games after suffering a groin injury during training a month ago.
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He was expected to be out of action until after this month’s international break but is likely to be on the bench tonight with an eye on starting Sunday’s top of the table clash with Manchester City.
Arteta confirmed to reporters in a hastily arranged telephone conversation: “Thomas has progressed really well in the last two weeks and he’s managed to train in the last two or three days with the team.
“That’s great news because he’s a big player for us and we know what he brings to the team.
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“He might have some exposure against Lens depending how the game goes.
“He knows exactly what we need and with the injuries we had to other players in midfield and at the back he gives us options and complements us really well.”
Bukayo Saka was also given the all-clear to travel despite being forced off at Bournemouth at the weekend with a foot injury.
Arteta said: “Bukayo is much better. It was a big knock but he has recovered well and trained with us today.
“It’s great that he is available but we need to know the condition of every player because we had some issues last week.”
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