Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of several key players as they prepare for a return to Premier League action a week on Saturday. Due to a change to the length of the first international break this season, three weeks will have passed from the 3-0 loss to Brighton when Arsenal host Leeds at the Emirates Stadium in a lunchtime kick-off.
The Gunners will hope to have Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White available for selection, but their injury issues remain with Declan Rice and Kai Havertz among those being forced to withdraw from international duty. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard received a knock on Sunday and summer signing Ezri Konsa was an unused substitute in England’s 2-0 win over the Czech Republic, before Christos Tzolis was then forced off playing for Greece against the Netherlands.
Christos Tzolis and Martin Odegaard
Arsenal’s newest injury fear concerns Tzolis, who suffered a suspected hamstring issue shortly after having a goal ruled out for offside during the early stages of Greece’s eventful 2-2 Nations League draw with the Netherlands in Thessaloniki on Thursday night. It was a huge concern to see the £34million summer signing from Club Brugge receiving treatment with his shirt over his face, though footage of him jogging off after only 18 minutes appeared to allay at least some worries over the severity of the issue, with Greece boss Ivan Jovanovic claiming that he initially refused to be substituted. However, he did eventually relent and it has been quickly reported in Greece that he will now make an early return to Arsenal for further assessment. Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment.
Odegaard raged after being on the receiving end of a late challenge from ex-Manchester City star Bernardo Silva during Norway’s 2-1 home defeat by Portugal in the Nations League in Oslo last Sunday. The Arsenal captain said the challenge - which came from behind after he had already played the ball away - “doesn’t belong on a football field” as he angrily confronted Silva and was seen shouting “f**k you” repeatedly in his direction. Odegaard limped away after the game, though he did not withdraw from the Norway squad for Thursday’s clash with Wales, which he started and played the full 90 minutes, delivering a wonderful early assist for Oscar Bobb’s goal in a surprise 2-1 loss in Cardiff. Potential return date: October 10 vs Leeds (h).
Ezri Konsa and Kai Havertz
Konsa started and played the full 90 minutes in England’s dramatic 3-2 Nations League defeat by Spain at Wembley last Saturday. However, the Football Association (FA) confirmed on Monday morning that the defender - along with Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly - was not training with the main squad ahead of the flight to Prague, where Thomas Tuchel’s side faced the Czech Republic on Tuesday evening. Instead, Konsa followed his own individual programme at Tottenham’s training ground in Enfield. The encouraging sign is that Konsa was on the bench in Prague and has made the trip to Croatia for this weekend’s showdown. O’Reilly, however, has withdrawn. Potential return date: October 10 vs Leeds (h).
Havertz was forced off during Germany’s Nations League draw with the Netherlands last Thursday. The forward left the pitch with a hamstring issue after being caught by a high challenge from Quinten Timber - brother of his Arsenal team-mate Jurrien - in the first half. The decision was then made for Havertz to leave the Germany camp on Friday and return to Arsenal, with the German Football Association (DFB) stating that he had suffered a “muscle strain”. He will undergo further tests with the club’s medical staff, but there is optimism that he has not suffered a long-term injury. Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment.
Declan Rice and other absentees
Rice, last Monday, was one of five players to drop out of the England squad through injury. Rice has struggled with niggling injuries over the past 12 months, including neural and nerve pain in his hamstring. It’s not believed that the midfielder is currently carrying an injury, rather he is being given some rest at Arsenal in preparation for some huge games coming up. Potential return date: October 10 vs Leeds (h).
Hincapie was left out of Ecuador’s squad for the current international window amid ongoing fitness concerns. The left-sided defender has only started once for Arsenal across all competitions this season and missed out completely against Ipswich in the Carabao Cup. Having returned to the matchday squad for the loss to Brighton, it was assumed everything was fine, but new Ecuador manager Marcelo Gallardo confirmed Hincapie was left out of his first squad because of injury. It is unclear as to how serious the issue is, though a three-week break quite possibly came at the ideal time for Hincapie. Potential return date: October 10 vs Leeds (h).
White picked up a groin issue in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on September 12, subsequently missing the Carabao Cup win over Ipswich three days later. The defender, not named in the England squad, was thought be in contention for the showdown against Brighton following comments from Arteta during his pre-match press conference. “Ben is all good, we have another training session this afternoon, so very positive about everybody,” Arteta said. However, White was not in the matchday squad against his former club, meaning Rice and Martin Zubimendi had to share right-back duties after Timber went off in the second half. Though, taking Arteta's pre-Brighton update into consideration, White should be fine after the international break. Potential return date: October 10 vs Leeds (h).
Mosquera has been out of action since he was forced off in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on August 31, and has now missed Arsenal's last five matches across all competitions, including the loss to Brighton. However, the defender travelled with Arsenal to the Amex Stadium, despite not being named in the matchday squad. Spotted in his tracksuit, Mosquera then watched the warm-ups from the touchline, as the extra man often does for the Gunners. The extended international break should give Mosquera a chance to fully recover from the muscle issue. Potential return date: October 10 vs Leeds (h).
Arsenal’s defensive strength, even without Saliba, had been evident right up until the Brighton game. The Gunners are not expected to have the Frenchman available for a while yet as he has been sidelined since July with a back injury, though he has been named in the Champions League squad. The good news is the defender doesn't need surgery, but it may be after the November international break before he is back in action. A statement released in July read: “Specialist reviews on William’s return to London this week have confirmed that he has suffered a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation. Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should now commence a managed recovery programme. William’s rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period.” Potential return date: Winter 2026.
