Arsenal next five fixtures after Leeds win with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard return hope

Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta faces a tricky period of games with injuries now set to test his squad early

Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka faces a spell on the sidelines for Arsenal again

Five goals, three points, none conceded. Three players on the scoresheet, two with doubles, a trio of set pieces. These are the figures behind Arsenal’s win over Leeds United on Saturday.

Ten. Eberechi Eze’s shirt number. Two digits which will be on the back of his kit next weekend when Arsenal travel to Anfield and he finally gets to play for his boyhood dream, completing a journey 14 years in the waiting since he was released.

Max Dowman, 15. Yet to sit his GCSEs, when he will be tested on math. By that point, millions will know his name if they do not already. Here was a Premier League debut before he could legally drive a moped or actually work full-time.

Then there is the other number. Two. Injuries to Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. One shoulder and one hamstring. Both had to come off and left a cloud over the Emirates Stadium on what was otherwise an ideal day.

Add in the uncertainty around Kai Havertz’s own unspecified period on the sidelines and it is almost enough to take the joy away from buying Eze. Arsenal could be left in a similar position to last season despite trying their best all summer to guard against it.

These injuries really could not have come at a worse time, either. Arsenal have perhaps the toughest set of opening league fixtures of any side and now face the potential of being without their main three attacking threats.

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Here, football.london goes through the next five fixtures and what Havertz, Odegaard, and Saka could miss.

Liverpool (A) – Sunday, August 31.

Arteta would not be drawn on just how bad any of the injuries could be. Scans will reveal more but the concern is certainly there. It will be needed next weekend.

In the final match before the first international break of the season, Arsenal play possibly their toughest fixture. Liverpool look well equipped to cause serious problems with their attack, even if the midfield and defence will offer up space.

Arsenal have a good record in big games in recent years and will surely need it again if they are to go the one step further to win the title. Starting at Anfield would be an ideal way to leave a real statement.

Nottingham Forest (H) – Saturday, September 13.

We know for sure that the visit of Forest is to follow. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side (for now) got off to a thumping start themselves last weekend against Brentford but are plagued by uncertainty over their own manager’s future.

Arsenal have slipped up in games like this before, and the fact it comes after two weeks away from club football will be a concern. It’s the sort of game they signed Viktor Gyokeres to help them win.

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Manchester City (H) – Sunday, September 21.

After Forest, Arsenal will play their first Champions League group stage match. The draw is not until the end of next week, though, with qualifiers still being completed.

They will have to wait until Thursday before learning who they face and where. It could be anybody (other than English teams) at this point. Then it is City to come to north London.

It is a game that Arsenal have had the better of and know that they are more than capable of landing another early blow to Pep Guardiola, who looks vulnerable. City still have gaps in their team and are a work in progress, albeit an expensively assembled one.

Newcastle United (A) – Sunday, September 28.

If Arsenal are good against City of late then Newcastle are a major bogey team. Eddie Howe has one over Arteta and this fixture often brings with it plenty of passion, energy, and tension.

Alexander Isak may or may not be there by this stage – even if he is not sold before deadline day, there would have been almost a full month to reintegrate him, if that’s how all parties choose to play it – and that impacts the look of the match. St James’ Park will be rocking regardless.

Newcastle are a fine team with cohesion and strength across the pitch. They do lack a striker when Isak is not there, though.

West Ham (H) – Saturday, October 4.

In between Newcastle and West Ham there will be another Champions League clash. It could be home or away, in Scotland or the far reaches of Kazakhstan.

The question for West Ham is whether or not Graham Potter lasts another six weeks. He looks like a dead man walking already with the sharks circling.

West Ham are a mess. Arsenal should have no trouble, injuries or not, new manager or not.