After a thrilling come-from-behind victory over rival Manchester City, Arsenal enters the month of October’s round of international matches in second place in the Premier League. They are only separated from first place by goal differential. At the weekend, Mikel Arteta’s team was forced to play without Bukayo Saka for the first time in a few years. The England international is the latest injury victim this year. Here is a summary of all the most recent Arsenal injury news, updates, and possible return dates.
The big absence from this past weekend, Bukayo Saka was left out of the Arsenal squad completely despite reports before the game suggesting that he had taken part in the final training session that was done. It was then claimed that the winger would still report to international duty with England and may even make an appearance during the Three Lions’ clashes against Australia and Italy respectively, but it was later confirmed that after some medical checks, Saka would return to Arsenal to continue his rehabilitation.
Given how consistent and reliable has been for the Gunners over the past couple of years, having Saka back immediately is of paramount concern for Arteta and Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus had to fill in on the right-hand side against City, but Saka remains the sole left-footed natural right-winger that the north London side have.
The big absence from this past weekend, Bukayo Saka was left out of the Arsenal squad completely despite reports before the game suggesting that he had taken part in the final training session that was done. It was then claimed that the winger would still report to international duty with England and may even make an appearance during the Three Lions’ clashes against Australia and Italy respectively, but it was later confirmed that after some medical checks, Saka would return to Arsenal to continue his rehabilitation.
Given how consistent and reliable has been for the Gunners over the past couple of years, having Saka back immediately is of paramount concern for Arteta and Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus had to fill in on the right-hand side against City, but Saka remains the sole left-footed natural right-winger that the north London side have.
In Sunday’s game against Manchester City, William Saliba, the player whose injury may have cost Arsenal the league title last season, demonstrated why and how important he is to this current Arsenal squad. Erling Haaland’s threat was easily neutralized by the France international, who made sure the Norwegian attacker didn’t even attempt a shot on goal for the full 90 minutes. Saliba missed the final 11 games of the previous season due to a back issue; however, this time around, it has been reported that Saliba has been playing with a toe issue, which has forced him to miss France’s international matches.
However, the issue is not thought to be a serious one, and that it is more of a discomfort right now than anything, and there is hope that the towering Frenchman will be fit and available for Arsenal’s game against Chelsea just after the international break. While the likes of Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu could fill in at right centre-back, the Gunners simply don’t look the same without Saliba in it, and any hopes of a Premier League title win this year will surely depend on him staying fit for the entire campaign.
Amid the euphoria of Gabriel Martinelli’s return and winning goal at the Emirates, it’s perhaps been forgotten that Leandro Trossard was forced off at half-time with an injury of his own. The Belgium international has carried on his fine form from last season following his arrival from fellow Premier League side Brighton, but appears to have picked up a hamstring problem that could keep him out for the foreseeable future. An update from Belgium revealed that Trossard has been forced to pull out of his country’s EURO qualifying double header against Austria and Sweden respectively, with The Daily Mirror claiming that he is now set to undergo further assessment to reveal what damage has been done.