Aaron Ramsdale has not been named in Arsenal’s matchday squad to face Chelsea on Saturday evening.
The Gunners return to Premier League action following the October internationals with a trip across London to Stamford Bridge looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the domestic season.
They will be without goalkeeper Ramsdale, who was away with the England national team in the last fortnight, though didn’t play a minute with the Three Lions.
However, Ramsdale’s absence is not due to a fitness or disciplinary issue. The 25-year-old is not with the squad as his wife Georgina has given birth to a baby boy.
Ramsdale had relinquished his place as a starter to summer signing David Raya following the September international break. The Spaniard was drafted in for all of Arsenal’s subsequent Premier League and Champions League matches, with Ramsdale only being given minutes in a Carabao Cup third round victory at Brentford.
In his place at Stamford Bridge, third-choice goalkeeper Karl Hein has been promoted to the substitutes’ bench. The 21-year-old Estonia international has only played one competitive match for Arsenal, coming in a 3-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in last season’s Carabao Cup.
Mikel Arteta has been able to name Bukayo Saka in the starting lineup following a hamstring injury, while William Saliba is also fit to play after overcoming a toe problem.
Chelsea lineup to face Arsenal: Sanchez; Gusto, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella; Gallagher, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Mudryk; Sterling
Arsenal lineup to face Chelsea: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
