Arsenal return to Premier League action at the weekend and their injury problems appear to be easing following updates on several key players including Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard.
The international break proved to be a source of concern for many Gunners supporters with Saka limping off during England’s defeat by Greece coupled with Gabriel Martinelli picking up an issue whilst on duty with Brazil.
Of course, heading into the break the likes of Kai Havertz, Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko were not selected by their respective nations and Odegaard has been sidelined for over a month now.
With that said, as Mikel Arteta is reunited with his squad ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth, here is the latest Arsenal injury news...
Martin Odegaard
Odegaard has been absent for Arsenal since suffering an ankle injury during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League win over Austria last month.
Fears he had suffered an injury setback recently appear to be wide of the mark, with the midfielder seen training on an anti-gravity treadmill last week.
The good news is Arteta is hopeful of having his captain back before the next international break.
“I think he’s not going to be fit for this game,” the Spaniard said ahead of the Gunners’ trip to Bournemouth.
“Next week will be a different story, but again, in that later stage of rehab where he is at the moment, because he’s doing already a lot of the stuff, he needs to clear some markers, he needs to clear certain things, he needs to be comfortable doing things especially with the ball. I think next week will be crucial to understand how close he is.”
Potential return date: Mid-November
Bukayo Saka
Saka was taken off after 51 minutes during England’s 2-1 defeat to Greece on Thursday after suffering a hamstring injury.
The winger was sent for a scan and withdrew from the Three Lions squad for the 3-1 win over Greece on Thursday.
Saka was said to be ‘hopeful’ about being fit to face Bournemouth and after being assessed by the club’s medical team, it looking positive regarding his availability for the weekend.
"It is not a serious injury,” Arteta said. “He is evolving really well. We are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon."
Potential return date: Saturday 19 October vs Bournemouth
Kai Havertz
Havertz withdrew from the Germany squad ahead of their Nations League against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands due to a knee problem but there is positive news regarding his availability vs Bournemouth too.
“He had a few issues and we’ve been dealing with that,” Arteta said.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant, he has very good communication with the national team, with the manager. They understood the situation, we modified everything that we could do here and again if he trains well today he’s got a good chance to be fit and available.”
Potential return date: Saturday 19 October vs Bournemouth
Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli picked up an injury after appearing as a late substitute during Brazil’s 2-1 win over Chile last Friday.
He was spotted training with tape on his calf over the weekend, and then missed his country’s match against Peru.
Martinelli flew home from Brazil on Wednesday morning and an update has been delivered following an assessment.
“Well with Gabby he landed yesterday afternoon here so we have very short time to be with him,” Arteta explained. “Yesterday he went outside to do a little bit and see how he’s feeling. Again today will be another step to understand whether we want to take the risk if he’s fit because I know what the player is going to say - ‘I’m going to be fit for sure’.”
Potential return date: Saturday 19 October vs Bournemouth
Takehiro Tomiyasu
After an injury-hit start to the campaign, Takehiro Tomiyasu made his first appearance of the season before the international break, featuring for six minutes off the bench.
Recent reports that Tomiyasu suffered another injury during that brief cameo have been confirmed, although there is no timeline on a potential return.
“We don’t know that (how long he will be out for),” Arteta revealed. “It doesn’t look like, hopefully, a long period but we have to see when he comes back how he reacts to the load and to the impact on the pitch as well.
“But we really need him, he has been incredible, his work rate, the amount of hours he has put in to get back. He did it and he was in great shape - and now he has got something else again. But, we are all behind him. He needs our support and hopefully he will be fine.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Thomas Partey
Partey withdrew from international selection for Ghana ahead of their 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifying double-header with Sudan.
A statement read: “Thomas is unable to join the Black Stars due to medical issues he is currently experiencing, and his club has scheduled him for further tests in the coming days.”
Partey was suffering from illness and is expected to return to face Bournemouth having filled in at right-back during the win over Southampton.
Potential return date: Saturday 19 October vs Bournemouth
Ben White
White hasn’t featured for Arsenal since replacing Bukayo Saka at half-time during the 2-2 draw with Manchester City last month.
The right-back has missed the Gunners’ last four games but has since had two weeks to recover and Arteta is hopeful of recalling him to the matchday squad.
Potential return date: Saturday 19 October vs Bournemouth
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Zinchenko has only played twice so far this season for Arsenal and hasn’t featured since coming on as a late substitute during the 1-1 draw with Brighton at the end of August.
The Ukraine international has been dealing with a calf injury but Arteta expects him back imminently.
Potential return date: Saturday 19 October vs Bournemouth
Jurrien Timber
Timber was forced off at half-time during Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain with a “muscle injury” and did not go away with the Netherlands for their Nations League games against Hungary and Germany.
He missed the Southampton game and the Gunners will be wary of his workload after he missed all of last season after knee surgery. Like, White and Zinchenko, a return is on the cards.
“They are quite close, the three of them,” Arteta said. “Again today we’re going to have to try to push and see how it is because obviously we are getting stronger with the numbers, especially in our right side, but hopefully we have some positive news today and we have some players back for tomorrow.”
Potential return date: Saturday 19 October vs Bournemouth
Neto
Neto is unavailable for the trip to Bournemouth as he ineligible to face his former club.
The Brazilian is on a season-long loan deal at the Emirates from the Cherries.
First-choice goalkeeper David Raya is back fit but Arsenal will have to choose between No 3 Tommy Setford or 16-year-old Jack Porter to be on the bench at the Vitality Stadium.
Potential return date: Tuesday 22 October vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Kieran Tierney
A serious hamstring injury suffered while playing for Scotland at Euro 2024 has kept Tierney on the sideline since, as his wait for a first appearance of the season goes on.
The injury prevented Tierney from making a summer move which had appeared inevitable, and it remains to be seen whether he is in Arteta’s plans even when he does return to full fitness. That stage in his recovery does not appear to be imminent.
