Arsenal injury update: Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Ben White latest news and return dates

Arsenal injury update: Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Ben White latest news and return dates

Fixtures continue to come thick and fast as Arsenal welcome back key players

Arsenal FC

Arsenal have been boosted by the return of some key players as they look to keep pace with Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly returned in the battling win over Wolves on Saturday, but Lewis-Skelly was shown a red card in that match and faces a suspension unless it is overturned.

Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino were ruled out of the trip to Molineux but Mikel Arteta has had some good news on the two midfielders ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Girona and Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain on the sidelines, while injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus have left Arsenal short in forward areas.

Here’s a look at the latest Arsenal injuries…

Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal need to strengthen in attack

Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard was surprisingly left out of Arsenal’s squad to face Wolves over the weekend.

The Norwegian played the full 90 minutes in midweek against Dinamo Zagreb and then travelled with his Arsenal team-mates for the match at Molineux.

However, he then returned home due to illness.

“Martin was ill this morning and we had to send him back – he was nowhere near fit to play,” Arteta said of Odegaard’s absence against Wolves.

But Odegaard has returned to training this week and Arteta could now save him for the Manchester City clash rather than risk him against Girona.

Potential return date: Girona (h) on Wednesday, January 29 or Manchester City (h) on Sunday February 2

Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino was not named in the Arsenal squad for the win over Wolves.

The midfielder played the full 90 minutes in the draw with Aston Villa, before he was then named on the bench against Dinamo Zagreb.

Potential return date: Girona (h) on Wednesday, January 29 or Manchester City (h) on Sunday February 2

Mikel Merino is back in training

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Ben White

Arsenal have been forced to cope without Ben White since he underwent a minor surgical procedure in November to resolve a knee issue.

The right-back had been carrying a joint problem before that and it is hopes that this will enable White to return to action pain-free.

The Englishman is not back in first-team training, but Arteta confirmed last week that White could soon be back in the fold.

‘He hasn’t trained with the team yet but he is very close to doing that,’ said Arteta. ‘He will be with us really soon.’

Potential return date: February 2025

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka has now been out for more than a month after he required surgery on a hamstring injury picked up against Crystal Palace in December.

The Arsenal star has been in attendance at a number of home matches recently, but Mikel Arteta has insisted that he goes on holiday as he continues his recovery.

This is the first significant injury of Saka’s career and he is expected to be out until at least March.

Potential return date: March 2025



Bukayo Saka required hamstring surgery last month

Instagram/@bukayosaka87

Takehiro Tomiyasu

It has been another injury-hit season for Takehiro Tomiyasu.

The 26-year-old has managed only six minutes of Premier League football and has been out of action since the start of October.

Tomiyasu is reportedly nearing a return, but no firm timeline has been provided by Arsenal.

Potential return date: Unknown

Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Jesus’ season is over after he suffered an ACL injury in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United earlier this month.

The striker has had surgery on his left knee and now faces a lengthy recovery process, with Jesus likely facing a battle just to be fit in time for the start of next season.

Potential return date: Summer 2025

arsenal injuries

Martin Odegaard