Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of a number of players ahead of Saturday’s North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur following the latest round of international fixtures.
The Gunners take on Spurs in Saturday’s early kick-off, where a win would extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, but they could now be without up to seven players for the contest in what has become an injury crisis for Mikel Arteta.
Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe had already been ruled out of the fixture, but early returns from international duty for injury prone stars Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney and Takerhiro Tomiyasu leaves Arsenal ’s squad stretched to its limits.
Partey, who withdrew from Ghana’s starting lineup just moments ahead of last week’s game against Brazil after reporting discomfort in his knee, is the biggest concern and has already missed four of Arsenal’s eight games this season due to a persistent thigh problem.
The midfielder’s latest injury has raised new doubts about his long-term availability and, while his latest setback is not thought to be serious, his past record means the club’s medical team will not be taking any chances and rushing him back into action.
Tierney has become second choice at left back this season following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s summer arrival but, despite performing admirably in Scotland’s 3-0 win over Ukraine last Wednesday, he has also returned to north London early due to concussion protocols.
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The Scotsman was withdrawn from Saturday’s 2-1 win against the Republic of Ireland following a clash of heads and was forced to withdraw from the squad as a result, which could provide Arteta with a left back selection dilemma on Saturday.
That’s because Zinchenko is already out with an injury of his own. The 25-year-old is struggling to recover from the calf strain which ruled him out of the recent 3-0 win at Brentford and is ruled out of Ukraine’s Nations League decider against Scotland tonight.
Another defender in Tomiyasu has also returned from international duty. The Japanese right back impressed in his side’s 2-0 victory over the United States on Friday, but flew back to London ahead of tonight’s clash with Ecuador due to club circumstances.
Back at Arsenal’s London Colney training base, Ben White is aiming to return to full fitness after picking up a niggle. The defender was substituted in the second half of the victory over Brentford in west London.
Keeping them in good company in north London is Smith Rowe and Elneny, who are both also in recovery after their early omissions from Saturday’s clash with Tottenham following recent injuries for the pair. However, they are expected to experience long-term lay-offs.
Smith Rowe could face groin surgery after missing Arsenal’s last two fixtures, while Elneny is unlikely to play again this year after suffering a hamstring tear following his only start of the season in the 2-1 victory over Fulham at the end of August.
