Arsenal picked up a fresh injury concern during their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Gunners enjoyed a night to remember at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday in their home opener in the revamped version of Europe’s elite club competition, delivering a statement 2-0 victory over the reigning French champions courtesy of first-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.
However, Jurrien Timber was forced off at half-time against PSG, replaced by Jakub Kiwior after appearing to sustain a knock.
It was the only potential worry on an otherwise landmark evening for Arsenal, who still have a number of other injury issues lingering as they prepare to host struggling Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday ahead of the second international break of the season.
Here is all the latest Arsenal injury news, with Mikel Arteta also getting a huge boost on Tuesday as new signing Mikel Merino recovered from a shoulder issue to make his debut off the bench against PSG. Riccardo Calafiori also shrugged off any injury concerns to play the full game.
Jurrien Timber
Timber started at left-back again in the win over PSG, having demonstrated his valuable versatility in the opening weeks of the season after also starring on the opposite side of defence.
Arteta would be at pains to once again be without the Dutch defender, who missed the majority of his first season in English football with a major knee injury.
However, the Arsenal boss appeared to allay the latest concerns over Timber in his post-PSG press conference, telling reporters: “He was unbelievable in the first half, but he felt something muscular and he wasn't certain. So I didn't want to take any risks.
“He's been out for a year and he's played a lot of minutes, probably more minutes than we would have wanted in the past few weeks and we have to manage him.”
It remains to be seen if Timber will be available to face Southampton this weekend, with Arteta seeming likely to exercise caution if there is any doubt over his fitness and having discussed a potential minutes overload with the international break coming up.
Potential return date: October 19, vs Bournemouth
Ben White
Arsenal had doubts over both Ben White and Calafiori going into the PSG game, with the latter ending up playing and the former absent once again after sitting out training.
White also missed the dramatic 4-2 win over Leicester in the Premier League with what has been reported as a groin issue, having been absent for the Carabao Cup demolition of Bolton and left on the bench against Manchester City before replacing Saka at half-time.
It is unclear at this stage if White will play any part against Southampton, though the fact that he was not ruled out completely in the days leading up to PSG could be a good sign.
Potential return date: October 5, vs Southampton or October 19, vs Bournemouth
Martin Odegaard
Arsenal have been without influential captain Martin Odegaard since he suffered ankle ligament damage while away on international duty with Norway in the Nations League last month, described as “significant”.
He has missed all of their last seven games across all competitions, with Arteta revealing last week that his return was likely a “matter of weeks” away and that he did not expect him back before the international break.
However, Norway boss Stale Solbakken said of Odegaard on Tuesday: “He is far from being in the [Norway] squad.
“We will have to see how far he gets during this international break. It is possible that he will come, but it depends a little on his rehabilitation. I have not spoken to him in the past four or five days."
Potential return date: Mid-to-late October
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Like Odegaard, Ukrainian left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has not played for Arsenal since the 1-1 draw with Brighton on August 31.
The former Manchester City defender has a calf problem, with Arteta believing that he would be sidelined for a few weeks.
There has been no recent update on Zinchenko, who is another Gunners star likely to be sidelined until after the upcoming international break.
Potential return date: Mid-to-late October
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Injury-plagued defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has yet to feature for Arsenal this season as the result of a knee issue suffered on the eve of their pre-season tour of the USA.
He has been out ever since, though Arteta offered a positive update on his recovery prior to the win over Leicester last weekend.
“He had partial training today and he looked good,” Arteta said of Tomiyasu. “He’s progressing really well and is a little bit behind Mikel [Merino], but we don’t know with Tomi because he’s another one that pushes every single day. He’s in a good place now I think.”
Potential return date: October 19, vs Bournemouth
Kieran Tierney
Tierney was stretchered off with a hamstring injury while playing for Scotland at Euro 2024 and has not been involved for Arsenal at all this season.
Such an injury may well have scuppered his chances of securing a permanent exit from north London, having spent last season on loan in LaLiga with Real Sociedad.
When he does return, Tierney is likely to find regular football very hard to come by with Arteta now blessed with significant strength in depth in the full-back positions.
Potential return date: Unknown
Tommy Setford
Setford will have been gutted that injury ruled him out of an early Arsenal debut against Bolton, with first-choice goalkeeper David Raya absent for that game and deputy Neto cup-tied - meaning 16-year-old Jack Porter started instead.
The £1million summer arrival from Ajax was brought in to serve as Arteta’s new No3 ‘keeper, with Karl Hein loaned to Real Valladolid.
Setford was seen along with fellow injury absentees Tierney and Tomiyasu watching the game against PSG at the Emirates, but little has been said about the specific nature of his injury or a possible timeline for his return.
