LATEST UPDATES : Saka, Martinelli and Jesus: Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Leicester City trip

They are six points behind Liverpool at the top. The London outfit have played one more game than Arne Slot’s side as well.

Arsenal defensive and midfield woes

Takehiro Tomiyasu – out. Arsenal still don’t have Takehiro Tomiyasu available for selection. He is sidelined with a knee injury and isn’t ready to play just yet. Arteta has said: “Tomi has done some stuff on the pitch, but we have to see. It has been a long-term injury, and we have to see how quick he progresses and how he reacts.” Expected return date: 22/02/2025.

Ben White – out. The defender remains sidelined for the time being as well. Like Tomiyasu, he has also had a knee issue. His head coach has said: “He hasn’t trained with the team yet, but I think he’s very close to doing that. He still needs to tick a few boxes in the next two or three days. If that’s going well and smoothly, I think he’ll be with us pretty soon.” Expected return date: 15/02/2025.

Arsenal attacking woes

Bukayo Saka – out. Saka will remain in the treatment room until late March at the very least. Arteta said in late January: “No, that’s not going to change [three months]. It’s within the process. He’s doing really well; he’s feeling better day by day, but we have to respect the healing process… he has a lot of stages to go through in his rehab.” Expected return date: 01/04/2025.

Gabriel Jesus – out. Jesus is also unavailable to play right now after suffering an ACL injury. He is out for a long-term basis which is a blow. A club statement read earlier this winter: “Further to being substituted during our match with Man United, Gabriel Jesus has received extensive assessments, which have confirmed that he has sustained an injury to the ACL in his left knee.” Expected return date: 22/11/2025.

Gabriel Martinelli – out. Martinelli went off against Newcastle United last week and has since been assessed. He has suffered a hamstring injury and now faces a month on the sidelines after having a scan which is a blow. Expected return date: 11/03/2025.

Speaking after Arsenal’s loss to Newcastle, Arteta said: “They’ve been much better than us in our boxes. They’ve been much more efficient in the game at home as well. I think we generated 24 shots, and had a lot of chances but we didn’t manage to score a goal in two legs, so, that tells you the story.

“We are really hurting at the moment, we really wanted to take the team, the club to Wembley again and we put so much into it and unfortunately we could not deliver that. I think we need to first digest this one because it’s a painful one and tomorrow we’ll start to recharge.”