ARSENAL INJURY UPDATE
Arsenal injury update: William Saliba, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard latest news and return dates
Four new fitness concerns as the Gunners go four points clear
Arsenal beat Crystal Palace to open up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Eberechi Eze netted the only goal of the game against his former club as the Gunners took full advantage of Liverpool and Manchester City falling to defeats over the weekend.
However, the win has been marred by a fresh quadruple injury scare.
The north London outfit have not had much luck on the fitness front this season as they were already without a host of senior players for the visit of Palace.
Now manager Mikel Arteta will be hopeful of some positive news as he prepares his side for a home game against Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest Arsenal injury news.
William Saliba
While it was centre-back partner Gabriel whose fitness was under question ahead of the game, Saliba ended the day with a fitness concern of his own.
Saliba started alongside Gabriel on Sunday afternoon but was replaced at half-time, despite showing few signs of discomfort.
Arsenal are back in action at home to Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, so Arteta will provide a further update on Saliba – and three other issues from the win over Crystal Palace – on Tuesday.
Potential return date: Unknown

Forced off: Declan Rice
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Declan Rice
Shortly afterwards, Declan Rice had to be withdrawn during the second half after picking up a knock.

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As Mikel Arteta was organising other substitutes at the time, the head coach was forced into a quick change and introduced Mikel Merino.
Speaking after the game, Arteta said: “Declan as well was struggling from the first half with a knock that he took … with Declan, I don’t really know because it was a knock.
But I don’t know if it was the calf or the Achilles or what exactly it was.”
Rice was able to walk onto the pitch at full-time to celebrate the victory.
Potential return date: Unknown
Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori was another forced off during the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, coming off at the same time as Rice, after picking up a knock.
Arteta has little to say on the matter after the game, beyond acknowledging the late substitution.
Potential return date: Unknown
Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli replaced Bukayo Saka on 66 minutes and saw out the victory, but was spotted hobbling down the tunnel after the game.
Asked by reporters if Martinelli was OK, Arteta said: “Yeah, I think so.
“We have to check that one. He was a bit uncomfortable. He said he felt something. We don’t know whether it’s a muscular issue or not. Tomorrow we’ll have more news.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Sidelined: Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard
Odegaard has had no luck with injuries so far this season. After making a full recovery from a troublesome shoulder problem, disaster struck for the Arsenal captain against West Ham.
Substituted once again in the first half, it was later confirmed by the club that the midfielder suffered a medial collateral ligament injury.
After the game, Arteta confirmed the issue but was unable to elaborate further. He told reporters: “Willy obviously had to be out after the first half … there are two things related to his substitution.”
“It’s tricky to set a return date with this type of injury because, especially it being my left leg, a lot depends on how it goes when I start getting back on the pitch,” he said.
“Sometimes it can be quite sore when you start passing the ball and shooting and all these things with that leg, so it’s really hard to say a date.
“All I can say is I’m progressing really well at the moment. I think we will know more when I start getting back on the training pitches and we’ll see how that goes. If that goes really well then it can be quick.”
Potential return date: November 23, 2025 vs Tottenham (H)
Noni Madueke
The summer signing from Chelsea was enjoying an impressive start to life at Arsenal, but suffered a setback in the draw against Manchester City.
Withdrawn at half-time because of a knee complaint, fortunately scans the next day showed Noni Madueke had not suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
While the injury is not too serious, Arteta has said he expects to be without the winger for a number of weeks.

Sidelined: Noni Madueke
Getty Images
“It looks like he is going to be out for a few weeks,” the Gunners manager told reporters. “We don’t really know yet. Probably we are going to have to scan him next week again.
“He felt something at the beginning of the match. He tried to carry on and at half-time it was too sore, so let’s see.”
Potential return date: November 2025
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz has not featured for Arsenal since a second half substitute appearance in the win over Manchester United on the opening weekend of the new season.
After complaining of discomfort in his knee, the German international required minor surgery to correct the issue.
The club have been optimistic that Havertz would be sidelined for a period of weeks rather than months, with Arteta saying “many, many weeks” in his last update before the defeat at Liverpool back in August.
If all goes to plan, Arsenal’s No29 could be available for selection again before the next international break.
Potential return date: November 2025
Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Jesus last featured for Arsenal in January’s FA Cup third round loss to Man United on penalties.
The Brazilian has struggled with knee issues throughout his stint in N5, and was forced to undergo yet another surgery on a torn cruciate ligament.
Jesus has been keeping supporters updated regarding his progress throughout the summer, posting footage of himself back on grass in a significant update.
The Brazilian recently said: “Yeah, I’m feeling great, man. My knee’s responding very well. So now I’m looking forward to being around the team again soon, to come back to do what I love to do. It’s been too long.
“An injury like this, one that is so long, you split up the recovery periods into smaller timings. So now I’m at the stage where I need to hold myself back a little bit, because I’m doing great work outside on the pitches, but it’s tricky because I need to not rush myself too hard over the line.
“When you can see the end, it’s important you don’t push too hard, keep my feet on the floor, and then as soon as the time comes, I will be ready.”
Potential return date: Late 2025
We return to Premier League action on Saturday, December 13 against Wolves at Emirates Stadium, and you can see how we’ve been preparing for the contest with our latest training gallery.
Despite our 18-match unbeaten run coming to an end at Villa Park last weekend, we head into Saturday’s game in winning form after thrashing Club Brugge 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Victory against Rob Edwards’ side would extend our lead at the top of the Premier League to five points, with the teams closest to us in the table playing on Sunday.
Swipe through the gallery below, captured by club photographer, Stuart MacFarlane, to see what our players have been up to at the Sobha Realty Training Centre:
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Arsenal could be without nine players for Saturday’s clash against Wolves.
Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel, Kai Havertz and Max Dowman will definitely miss the game due to injury.
Riccardo Calafiori will also be absent because he is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend at Aston Villa.
Myles Lewis-Skelly will start at left-back in place of Calafiori and Mikel Arteta will hope Jurrien Timber is fit to partner Piero Hincapie in the heart of defence.
Timber is one of four players that are doubts for the game with Wolves at Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice was ill in midweek and missed the win in Club Brugge. Leandro Trossard has a calf problem and William Saliba is struggling with an ankle issue.
“[Saliba] hasn’t trained with us yet,” said Arteta on Friday morning. “We have an extra day, we train this afternoon. Let’s see if he can be available or not.
“If you asked me [about the] Everton game, I think he will be fit. For tomorrow I don’t know.
“It came from an ankle injury that he had and then it started to modify the way he was running and all that. He started to overload an area, which is something common.”
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Arteta may not have to rush Rice back as he could opt to play with a midfield trio of Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi.
Arsenal played with Eze and Odegaard as two No8s earlier this season, when they hosted West Ham.
In attack, Viktor Gyokeres will hope to lead the line again after starting in Club Brugge and getting just over an hour under his belt.
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Bukayo Saka was rested for that game, but should return. Noni Madueke could keep his place in team after scoring twice against Brugge, however he may have to move to the left flank.
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Timber, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Madueke
ARSENAL INJURY UPDATE
HUGE BLOW : Mikel Arteta on injury crisis: Arsenal in ‘really dangerous circle’ as Max Dowman also sidelined
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are caught in a “really dangerous circle” after a consistent spate on injuries across this season; Max Dowman is the latest Gunners’ player to be ruled out, but Arteta denies over-training is to blame; Arsenal play Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday
Wednesday 10 December 2025 11:09, UK
Image:Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are in “dangerous circle” regarding injury issues
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are in a “really dangerous circle” as their injury crisis worsened over the weekend with news that teenager Max Dowman has been sidelined for a number of weeks with ankle ligament damage.
Arsenal’s 28 injuries is the highest in the Premier League this season. Their current absentee list is made up of three centre-backs in William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera, as well as Kai Havertz and now Dowman.
Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Piero Hincapie have also faced spells on the sidelines across an injury-blighted campaign, some with multiple setbacks.
To add to Arteta’s problems, Trossard has not travelled to Belgium for Arsenal’s Champions League match against Club Brugge on Wednesday after he limped off in defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend while Declan Rice is also absent – but through illness.
Gabriel Jesus, on his way back from an ACL injury, has replaced Dowman in the Gunners’ Champions League squad and could make his first appearance since January against Brugge.
Image:Gabriel picked up an injury against Olympiakos
Asked if training methods are partly to blame, Arteta said: “No, because we don’t have time to train. Today [Tuesday] we’ve done 20 minutes, so surely it’s not because we over-trained the players.
“But obviously when you are missing players, you are loading other players and there is a consequence to that, and it’s a really dangerous circle.
Watch Arsenal players’ reaction to Emi Buendia’s last-gasp goal for Aston Villa that ended their 18-match unbeaten run
“You have to separate the kind of injuries. Some of them have been long-term and some have been acute injuries. It’s something that we are constantly looking at.
“We have played a lot of games with a lot of players missing and that puts a lot of stress, and then you get more injuries.”
Commenting on Dowman’s injury, Arteta added: “With Max, unfortunately he picked up an injury last weekend, and he had to come off, so we did some scans and he is going to be out for weeks.”
Arsenal can make it six consecutive wins in the Champions League with victory in Belgium, almost certainly guaranteeing a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the knockout rounds.
Injuries in clusters poses another problem
Image:Kai Havertz hasn’t played a single minute for Arsenal this season
It is not just the volume of injuries causing problems for Arsenal. They continue to suffer injuries in positional clusters too.
Last season, it was most apparent up front, with Havertz tearing his hamstring in February after another injury to Jesus had increased the burden on him as the side’s only available striker.
Gary Neville believes although Arsenal will now feel Manchester City breathing down their neck, it isn’t time to panic, as they simply lost a tough match against Aston Villa
A similar situation occurred at right-back, as injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu and White ensured a punishing schedule for Jurrien Timber, who had to undergo surgery on an ankle issue in May.
Arsenal paid the price for leaving themselves short in certain positions last season, particularly up front. But the problem has resurfaced this term.
Everton
Arsenal
Saturday 20th December 7:45pmKick off 8:00pm
An injury to Havertz at the start of the season left Gyokeres with a heavier-than-planned load. He then hurt his groin, with midfielder Mikel Merino having to fill in up front as he did last season.
Merino performed admirably in the role but, having been required to start seven consecutive games in the space of a month for Arsenal, either side of another two starts for Spain, he was taken off at half-time in Saturday’s loss Aston Villa, clearly fatigued.
Arsenal’s December fixtures
Dec 10: Club Brugge (A) – Champions League
Dec 13: Wolves (H) – Premier League
Dec 20: Everton (A) – Premier League, live on Sky Sports
Dec 23: Crystal Palace (H) – Carabao Cup quarter-final, live on Sky Sports
Dec 27: Brighton (H) – Premier League
Dec 30: Aston Villa (H) – Premier League, live on Sky Sports
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