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Arsenal injury update: Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz latest news and return dates
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Arsenal injury update: Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz latest news and return dates
Gunners sweating on fitness of several key defenders ahead Aston Villa showdown
Arsenal’s injury concerns are showing little sign of easing
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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
13 hours ago
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Arsenal continue their Premier League title bid when they face Aston Villa on Tuesday.
The Gunners stayed two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table as a brilliant save from David Raya ensured they held on to beat Brighton 2-1 in their first game after Christmas.
Their final fixture of 2025 is a crunch clash with unlikely title rivals Aston Villa, who are just three points behind them after a brilliant run of eight straight wins.
Arsenal continue to be hit by injury absentees ahead of a key run of games in the title race, as Gabriel made a surprise return against Brighton but Jurrien Timber was ruled out and Riccardo Calafiori pulled out of the warm-up.
After the Aston Villa game, Arsenal travel to Bournemouth in the New Year before playing Liverpool at Emirates Stadium in another huge game on January 8.
Here’s all the latest Arsenal injury news and potential return dates…
Jurrien Timber
Arsenal were dealt a huge blow ahead of their win against Brighton when Timber failed to make the matchday squad.
Timber did arrive with his team-mates at the Emirates Stadium but was left out after sustaining a knock late on in the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace before Christmas.
Jurrien Timber was not in the squad against Brighton
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arteta said: “We missed him because in the last part of the game he felt something and he could not carry on so he’s out.”
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With the games coming thick and fast, it remains to be seen if Timber will be able to solve Arsenal’s right-back crisis for the Aston Villa game.
Potential return date: December 30 vs Aston Villa (H)
Riccardo Calafiori
Calafiori added to Arsenal’s injury woes when he had to withdraw from the starting line-up shortly before kick-off against Brighton.
The left-sided defender pulled out of the warm-up and Myles Lewis-Skelly took his place in the team.
Calafiori’s first season with Arsenal was disrupted by several fitness issues but he has managed to stay fit this term which has allowed him to established himself as the first-choice left-back.
Riccardo Calafiori pulled out of the warm-up before the Brighton game
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
He is now also a doubt for the Aston Villa game after a “very awkward” injury sustained in training before the Brighton game flared up during the warm-up.
“It’s something that he felt yesterday, something very awkward that happened, and today in the warm-up he wasn’t comfortable,” Arteta said.
Potential return date: December 30 vs Aston Villa (H)
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz is closing in on a return, despite Arteta raising hope of a potential comeback against Brighton before opting to leave the forward out of the matchday squad.
The German has not played since suffering a knee injury at Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season.
But he is back in training and could now be in contention to face Aston Villa.
Kai Havertz is back in training after four months out
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
“Quite close,” said Arteta when asked ahead of the Brighton game how close Havertz is to returning. “I think it will be a matter of days, not weeks. Let’s see in the next steps how he responds to that.
“But he is, again, a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I am really happy to have him back soon.”
Potential return date: December 30 vs Aston Villa (H)
Ben White
Ben White is sidelined with the hamstring injury he suffered against Wolves on December 13.
The good news for Arsenal is that the problem is not as bad as first feared and he could return soon.
Arteta said last week: “He’s evolving well. It’s not major injury but it will keep him out for a few games. I don’t think it’s going to be [major].
“Ben is a really fast healer as well so let’s hope that we’re going to have him in the next few games.”
Potential return date: December 30 vs Aston Villa (H)
Cristhian Mosquera
Cristhian Mosquera has been ruled out with what Arteta has described as a “complicated” ankle injury.
It is unclear when Mosquera will return but it has been reported that he could be sidelined until the middle of January.
“He’s going to be out for weeks unfortunately, it’s much more than what we expected,” Arteta said this month. “But the player was feeling it.”
Potential return date: January 2026
Max Dowman
Max Dowman sustained an ankle ligament injury in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United a few weeks ago.
His injury is not set to require surgery but Arsenal have replaced him in their Champions League squad and the midfielder is set to be sidelined until at least February.
Arteta said: “With Max, unfortunately, he picked up an injury, so we did some scans and he is going to be out
Potential return date: February 2026
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Arsenal injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Portsmouth: Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera latest
Arsenal will begin their bid to win the FA Cup for the 15th time in their history when they travel to Fratton Park for Sunday’s meeting with Championship strugglers Portsmouth.
The Gunners missed the chance to further extend their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in Thursday’s underwhelming goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
While their five-game winning league run came to an end, Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the fact that his side are now unbeaten in seven competitive matches ahead of Sunday’s cup tie and Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Portsmouth, who are languishing in 21st spot in the Championship standings.
Piero Hincapie
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Hincapie was forced off with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the 57th minute of Thursday’s draw with Liverpool. Arteta now faces a nervous wait to discover the full extent of the defender’s injury.
Kai Havertz
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Match fitness
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Havertz has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of action for months. However, he has been left out of Arsenal’s last two matchday squads as he continues to build up his fitness. There is a possibility that the forward could make his first appearance since August in Sunday’s FA Cup clash.
Riccardo Calafiori
Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Calafiori has sat out Arsenal’s last four matches with a muscle injury. The defender is making progress in his recovery, but he is not expected to be ready for the upcoming trip to the south coast.
Cristhian Mosquera
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Like Calafiori, Mosquera is closing in on a return to action after missing over a month of action due to an ankle injury. However, the former Valencia defender will not be available for selection this weekend.
Max Dowman
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: Unknown
Max Dowman is likely to be out until February after sustaining an ankle problem while playing for Arsenal Under-21s in last month’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.
ARSENAL’S SUSPENSION LIST
Arsenal have no players suspended for the third-round tie.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
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Whether or not the right players are out there remains to be seen, but with Arteta enduring several injury blows already this season – particularly in defence – the manager will be keeping a close eye on potential targets.
The Gunners splashed the cash in the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera to the Emirates Stadium – so a loan deal might favour the club
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There could also be high-profile exits, both loans and permanent deals, with young midfield talent Ethan Nwaneri linked with an exit. Other youngsters could also make loan moves to get a taste of first-team football.
With that said, football.london takes a closer look at all the moves completed by Arsenal so far this January.
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News Liverpool’s injury list, suspensions and availability
Read the latest information on injuries, suspensions and availability in the Liverpool men’s squad.
Injuries
Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike was unavailable for the clash with Fulham because of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Arne Slot was asked whether he will be fit for the game at Arsenal on January 8.
Slot on January 7: “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today.
“I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”
Wataru Endo
The midfielder has been out of action with an ankle injury since appearing in the 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6.
Alexander Isak
Isak is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture on December 22.
He sustained the issue while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur two days prior.
Slot on December 23: “It’s going to be a long injury. For a couple of months. That’s a big, big, big disappointment for him and as a result of that of course also for us.”
Slot did also confirm he is confident Isak will be able to play again during the 2025-26 season.
Giovanni Leoni
The defender is amid a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Slot on September 26: “He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.
“There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”
Availability
Mohamed Salah
After featuring off the bench versus Brighton on December 13, the forward is now with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah scored in the group games against Zimbabwe and South Africa to help his country reach the last 16. They are next in action on January 5.
Suspensions
Conor Bradley
Bradley is one yellow card away from receiving a one-match suspension in the Champions League.
The Reds travel to Marseille on January 21 for matchday seven of the league phase and then host Qarabag a week later.
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