Mikel Arteta has big concerns at the back as Arsenal prepare for their first Premier League home game in almost a month. 
The Gunners had to settle for a point against Manchester City last time out in the league, conceding a last-minute equaliser having played more than 45 minutes with ten men, and their defensive efforts could have come at a cost.
Arteta’s side were already without the likes of Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko, while more changes were required during the match.
Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber both went down and had to be replaced in the second half, as Myles Lewis-Skelly finished the match at left-back, and David Raya appeared to be troubled by a knee issue and Ben White picked up a knock to miss the Carabao Cup win over Bolton.
Raya has been Arsenal’s player of the season so far, but there is concern over his fitness ahead of the visit of Leicester
The goalkeeper was filmed limping and with a bandage on his knee following the draw with Manchester City on Sunday, and then missed the cup win over Bolton to sparking fears of an injury.
Asked about the keeper on Wednesday, Arteta said: “We don’t know yet. He’s got a muscular injury.’
Potential return date: Saturday, September 28, vs Leicester
Martin Odegaard
Arsenal remain without Odegaard after he suffered a “significant” ankle injury earlier this month.
The midfielder came off while on international duty with Norway against Austria after landing awkwardly on his left ankle, and he was later pictured on crutches as he returned to London.
Speaking in the week, Arteta offered a timeline of sorts for the first time. He said: “I think it will be a matter of weeks. How long exactly, I cannot tell you.”
Pressed on whether Odegaard could return before next month’s international break, the Arsenal boss admitted that would be a “surprise.”
Odegaard, using the programme notes for the visit of Bolton, added his own update. He wrote: “I thought I would start with the latest on my injury. It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there, but it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can.
“I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible.
The defender was a surprise substitute for the draw at Manchester City, the first time he was named on the bench for a Premier League game since May 2022.
Explaining his decision at the time, Arteta said: “It was a little bit forced, but we are ok.
“We’ve done it with different players but we have full belief in the players we have. It gives us something different.”
White came off the bench at half-time, following Leandro Trossard’s red card, but White was absent against Bolton to through his involvement against the Foxes into doubt.
Potential return date: Saturday, September 28, vs Leicester
Mikel Merino
Merino is continuing to recover from a shoulder injury that has prevented him from making his debut for Arsenal.
He picked up the issue in his first training session for the club, but reports suggest Merino has been seen without a sling as he moves towards returning to fitness.
It was reported at the time that the midfielder would miss two months of action, meaning his debut will not come until at least after the next international break.
Jurrien Timber
It has been a busy week for Timber, who has started all three matches since the international break.
The Dutchman was shifted to right-back against City and played 90 minutes, until he was unable to continue in stoppage-time and came off for Lewis-Skelly.
However, Timber spoke after the match and provided a positive update on his fitness.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve played so many games, especially in seven days, so that’s really good,” he said.
Potential return date: Wednesday September 25, vs Bolton
Oleksandr Zinchenko
There has been no sign of Zinchenko in an Arsenal shirt since he featured for Ukraine against Czechia earlier this month.
The left-back has missed the last three Arsenal matches with a calf injury, as he was again not named in the squad against former club City.
He now appears unlikely to return before the international break, with Arteta confirming he will be out for “a few weeks”.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu has not yet played a single minute for Arsenal this season, having suffered a knee injury in the summer.
The Japanese defender has not returned to training and a recent vague update from Arteta suggests that a return is not imminent.
“At the moment, it’s difficult to say,” the Arsenal boss said.
“It’s a bit slow the process of the first phase of that injury. It’s probably for the medical team to say more on that.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Kieran Tierney
Tierney has been out since he picked up a serious hamstring injury for Scotland at Euro 2024.
As a result, the left-back was not able to secure a summer move away from Arsenal, and has surprisingly been named in the club’s Champions League squad, despite remaining on the sidelines.
Arteta said last month: “He needs to focus on recovering in the best possible way, it’s been a tough time for him again with the last injury. We have to try to support him and make sure he gets back fit.”
