Arsenal wrapped up November with back-to-back resounding victories, including a 5-1 win over Sporting-Lisbon and another 5-1 triumph at West-Ham. However, these successes have come at a cost, with several players suffering injuries during the matches.
While Arsenal’s squad depth has allowed them to maintain strong performances, the injury list continues to grow as key players face varying recovery times. Here’s the latest on the injured players in the Arsenal camp:
Injury Updates:
| Player | Injury | Expected Return | What Arteta Has Said |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bukayo Saka | Knock to ankle after a collision with Emerson during the West Ham match | Manchester United (h) on December 4, 2024 | “He’s fine. There’s no major issue, just a small knock.” |
| Gabriel | Injury flare-up from previous knock in Lisbon | Manchester United (h) on December 4, 2024 | “It was precautionary to take him off with a strong lead.” |
| Riccardo Calafiori | Managing workload due to minor niggles, particularly from past knee injury | Manchester United (h) on December 4, 2024 | “He’s doing well, but we have to be cautious with his minutes.” |
| Thomas Partey | Muscle injury | Unknown | “We couldn’t risk him for this match; we’ll see how he progresses.” |
| Mikel Merino | Knee issue | Unknown | “The game came too soon for him; we’re hopeful for his return soon.” |
| Ben White | Post-surgery recovery from knee issue | Early 2025 | “He’s improving but it’s a long recovery process. We must be cautious.” |
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | Ongoing knee issue (post-surgery) | Early 2025 | “He’s changing his environment to aid his recovery. It’s been tough for him.” |
Details on Key Injuries:
- Bukayo Saka: After an impressive performance against West-Ham, Saka had to leave field in 74th-minute after a collision with Emerson. Arteta has confirmed that the injury is not serious, and Saka is expected to be fit for the next match against Manchester United on December 4.
- Gabriel: The Brazilian center-back, who was a doubt before West Ham match, played through first-half, scoring and winning a penalty. However, coach substituted him at halftime as a precaution due to a flare-up of an injury sustained against Sporting Lisbon. They expect him to feature against Manchester United.
- Riccardo Calafiori: The coach substituted the Italian left-back before the hour mark at West Ham, with Arteta confirming the change was precautionary due to managing Calafiori’s recovery from a previous knee injury. The coach will make him available for selection against Manchester United.
- Thomas Partey: Partey missed the West Ham match due to a muscle injury. While the exact details of the injury remain unclear, Arteta indicated that Partey was not fit for the fixture and that his recovery would be monitored.
- Mikel Merino: Merino also missed the trip to West Ham with a knee issue, after he had replaced Partey in the match against Sporting Lisbon. The extent of his injury remains unknown, but Arteta hopes for his return soon.
- Ben White: After undergoing knee surgery in November, White’s recovery is progressing slowly but positively. He will stay sidelined for a few months, and the team expects his return in early 2025.
- Takehiro Tomiyasu: Tomiyasu has been out since the start of the season following knee surgery. After a brief return, he suffered a setback and is now undergoing a period of recovery away from the team. They expect him to return in early 2025.
As Arsenal prepares for a busy December, Arteta will be hopeful that some of these key players can return soon to maintain their strong position in the league.
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