Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be eager for some more positive injury updates following the win against Preston and before the Premier League clash against Newcastle. The Gunners strode past the Championship side to seal a spot in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz all on target.
Jurrien Timber, despite hobbling off against Liverpool, was named in the starting XI at right-back in place Ben White, who was given the night off having only just returned from injury himself. Gabriel Magalhaes also left the 2-2 draw with an injury and was subsequently absent from the matchday squad that headed to Deepdale.
The Brazil international looks to have avoided a major injury, though the likes of Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney are still recovering from their own more serious issues. However, Arteta has been able to provide recent positive updates on both with Riccardo Calafiori also hoping to feature again before the November international break.
With that said, football.london rounds up the latest Arsenal injury news before the trip to St James’ Park on Saturday lunchtime.
Gabriel Magalhaes
Injury: Knee.
Gabriel went down after a challenge from Darwin Nunez against Liverpool. The back of his left knee was hit and despite trying to play on, Arteta had to sub him off shortly after. The Brazilian was spotted with a large ice pack over his knee when sat on the bench
Posting on his Instagram story earlier this week, Gabriel was using a compression sleeve on his leg in the aftermath. Unsurprisingly, he was absent from the matchday squad for the Carabao Cup clash against Preston with Arteta also revealing he is yet to train.
What Arteta has said: “We’re still assessing him. It doesn’t look that bad. He was much better the next day. Too soon to say when he’ll be out. He could not train, obviously he’s out at the moment so let’s see how he evolves over the next few games.”
Possible return date: Unknown.
Ben White
After making his third consecutive start against Liverpool, White was absent from the matchday squad for the trip to Preston.
What Arteta has said: “He was struggling at the end of the match so he wasn’t available for tonight’s game.”
Possible return date: Newcastle (A) – Saturday, November 2.
Jurrien Timber
Injury: Unknown.
Like Saka, Timber started against Liverpool but had to be taken off before the end of the match. He appeared to go down with cramp before playing on. That didn’t last long, Miles Lewis-Skelly replaced Timber in the second half. Following Arteta’s update, the Netherlands international was named in the starting XI to face Preston.
What Arteta has said: “Jurrien was fine. He was too tired to continue the game. Not an injury there.”
Possible return date: Returned
Martin Odegaard
Injury: Ankle.
Odegaard suffered an ankle injury during the Nations League match against Austria in September. He was expected to be out for around two months after being assessed, and may be able to return before the next international break.
Speaking after the Liverpool draw, Arteta said that he was still “a bit far away” from playing. He has not been back in training yet. He was again absent from the team that faced Preston on Wednesday.
What Arteta has said: “He’s been on the grass for a few weeks but there is still a few boxes to tick. Hopefully he’ll be back before the international break.”
What Odegaard said: “I’m feeling better and better each day, but when it’s an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well. Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general it’s getting better and I feel like I’m getting closer now.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work in the gym, and was on an anti-gravity treadmill recently, which is really good because it takes the weight off. Especially at the beginning that was really good, to be running again like that when you’ve been offloading the leg and not using it as much as normal.
“That was a good feeling, helping me get back to moving in a normal way, and being able to run after not being able to do that.”
What Norway boss Stale Solbakken has said: “We have a legitimate hope that he is ready [for the November international break].”
Possible return date: Chelsea (A) – Sunday, November 10.
Riccardo Calafiori
Injury: Knee.
Calafiori was forced off with an injury during the Champions League clash at home to Shakhtar Donetsk after slipping in a challenge. Reports in Italy, from Corriere Dello Sport, suggest that he will only be out for several weeks. The issue is not described as being serious.
He did not play any part in the draw to Liverpool and was also missing from the Carabao Cup tie at Preston.
What Arteta has said: “He will be out for a few weeks I would say.”
Possible return date: November/December.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Injury: Unknown.
Tomiyasu was again absent from the matchday squad against Preston after missing games against Shakhtar Donetsk, Liverpool and Bournemouth. He has struggled with injury for most of 2024.
What Arteta has said: “We don’t know [how long he will be out for]. It doesn’t look like, hopefully, a long period but we have to see when he comes back how he reacts to the load and to the impact on the pitch as well.
“But we really need him, he has been incredible, his work rate, the amount of hours he has put in to get back. He did it and he was in great shape – and now he has got something else again. But, we are all behind him. He needs our support and hopefully he will be fine.”
Possible return date : Unknown.
Kieran Tierney
Injury: Hamstring.
Tierney remains out of action after suffering a horrible hamstring injury while playing for Scotland at Euro 2024. He is yet to return to training having been expected to leave the club over the summer. However, Arteta has hinted he could be returning soon.
What Arteta has said: “I think Kieran is quite close, he looks good, really sharp. He hasn’t trained with the team yet, hopefully he can do that in the next week or two.”
Return date: November/December.
