Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Liverpool amid White concern
Arsenal won against Leeds United by 4-1, maintaining their position as the top team in the Premier League ahead of Manchester City.
However, Mikel Arteta is still facing a number of injury issues as William Saliba was not able to play due to a back injury he suffered earlier this month.
There is no definite timeline for Saliba’s recovery. Bukayo Saka was also affected by an illness this week and was not in the starting lineup, but he was substituted in the 60th minute.
Before the game, Ben White was taken out of the pre-match warm-up early due to some concerns, but he was able to play the full 90 minutes.
Speaking after the win, Arteta said: “He [White] had some issues in the last few days but he’s a big fighter and he wanted to be here.
“With the injury of Tomiyasu, we are a bit short in that position. He scored a goal as well which is good news for him and he was very good again.”
Having mentioned that, ArsenalBrief has gathered and summarized the most recent updates on the physical condition of Arsenal players, in preparation for their upcoming match against Liverpool next weekend.
Ben White
Due to Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury and Cedric Soares’ loan to Fulham until the end of the season, Ben White is the only senior right-back available in Arteta’s squad. After overcoming injury issues to play the entire 90 minutes in the win against Leeds, Arteta described White as a ‘fighter’.
What Arteta said: “He [White] had some issues in the last few days but he’s a big fighter and he wanted to be here.
“With the injury of Tomiyasu, we are a bit short in that position. He scored a goal as well which is good news for him and he was very good again.”
Expected return date: Fully fit
Bukayo Saka
Mikel Arteta provided an explanation for why Bukayo Saka was not included in the starting lineup for Arsenal’s Premier League match against Leeds United on Saturday. The decision to have Saka start on the bench was questioned by Arteta prior to the match.
He said: “He wasn’t able to train yesterday as he wasn’t well but today he feels a little bit better, so we’ve put Gabby [Jesus] in.” Saka was thrusted into the action just after the hour mark and finished the game with no concerns.
Expected return date: Fully fit
William Saliba
William Saliba sustained a back injury and had to be substituted during Arsenal’s Europa League match against Sporting CP, causing him to miss subsequent games against Crystal Palace and France during the international break.
Although there was optimism that the two-week break would allow him to recover, it appears that he will not be available for Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League match against Leeds due to injury. He was not seen in training and Mikel Arteta confirmed his absence on Friday.
What Arteta has said: “We are trying to manage him in the best possible way. Unfortunately he’s not gonna be fit for this game [against Leeds] and we’re trying and he’s trying to do everything to feel better and get back training. But not yet.
“I am very hopeful and he is as well. Back injuries are a bit tricky and how they evolve with the load that you put in certain areas. He’s very positive and the medical staff are positive about it. Let’s push it every day and see how he copes with that and how the pain develops as well. He’s so willing to be back in the team.”
Expected return date: Unknown
Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey did not play in Ghana’s match against Angola in the African Cup of Nations qualification, with the Arsenal midfielder being an unused substitute due to a precautionary measure taken by Ghana boss Chris Hughton.
Arsenal sent their physio, Simon Murphy, to Ghana to ensure Partey’s fitness during international duty. Fortunately for Arsenal, Partey was present in training ahead of the match against Leeds, indicating that he will likely be available for the game.
Partey played for 60 minutes in the match against Leeds United before being substituted for Jorginho, with Arsenal already securing three points.
What Arteta has said: “We have a really good relationship with the Ghanaian federation and we have to manage and look after our players.
“They’ve been really positive about it as well. We have to manage our players. It works both ways. He obviously wasn’t fit enough to play the second game but hopefully he’ll be back for the weekend.”
Expected return date: Fully fit
Kieran Tierney
During Scotland’s European championship qualifier against Spain, Kieran Tierney played a crucial part in Scott McTominay’s second goal before being forced off the pitch in the 76th minute due to a tough tackle by Manchester City player Rodri.
However, Tierney was able to recover in time to make an appearance for Arsenal in their victory over Leeds United, coming on as a substitute in the second half and replacing Oleksandr Zinchenko, with Arsenal already having secured the win.
Expected return date: Fully fit
Eddie Nketiah
With Gabriel Jesus unavailable, Eddie Nketiah stepped up and played a crucial role in securing important victories for Arsenal. However, the Gunners will have to do without him until after the international break as he is currently recovering from an ankle injury, according to information obtained by football.london.
Nketiah, who has a contract with Arsenal until 2027, has already made 33 appearances for the team this season, and has directly contributed to 11 goals, including four wins against West Ham, Brighton, and Manchester United during a busy period over the New Year.
What Nketiah has said: Nketiah offered a positive update on his recovery after posting a message on social media ahead of the clash against the Eagles. The Hale End graduate said: “Grafting! *muscle emoji* #SoonBack.”
Nketiah added another image to his Instagram story with the caption: “Rehab crew, monster mentality *brain emoji* *finger point emoji*.”
Eddie Nketiah on Instagram story:
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) March 18, 2023
“Grafting! 💪🏾 #SoonBack”
“Rehab crew, monster mentality 🧠👈🏾”
Wishing you a speedy recovery, @EddieNketiah9! ❤️ #afc pic.twitter.com/EWaNzbO9yy
What Arteta has said: “He’s getting better. He’s still in the boot. He’s still a few weeks away and we need to be patient. It was a nasty injury and he has a big challenge ahead of him. Thank God it could have been worse. So he’s not in a bad place.”
Expected return date: Late March/Early April
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Takehiro Tomiyasu was substituted during the first 10 minutes of Arsenal’s match against Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium due to an overstretch while attempting a tackle.
He received treatment on the pitch, but was unable to continue and had to be replaced. Tomiyasu did not play in Arsenal’s match against Crystal Palace and it was later confirmed that he had undergone knee surgery. The medical staff have now determined the severity of the defender’s injury.
An official club statement reads : “Tomi has had successful surgery in London on Tuesday and will be ruled out for the remainder of this season. Everyone at the club will now be working hard with Tomi, so he can join pre-season training ahead of next season.”
What Arteta has said: “We don’t know. The doctor is assessing. We have one assessment and I think they need to have another assessment tomorrow. It’s not looking good. Tomi is not one to exaggerate things. He was really concerned straight away and we are concerned.”
Expected return date: June
Mohamed Elneny
Mohamed Elneny played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Oxford United, but was absent from the squad in the following matches due to a knee issue that he sustained in training before the Tottenham game.
He was also not included on the bench in the game against Manchester United. A statement released by the club confirmed that Elneny would be out of action for an unspecified period of time. However, the midfielder has since signed a new contract with Arsenal and is nearing his return to the pitch.
Expected return date: Unknown
Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Liverpool amid White concern
Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Liverpool amid White concern
Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Liverpool amid White concern