Arsenal are managing several key injury concerns as the Premier League returns next weekend. The international break has brought setbacks for Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz, while Declan Rice withdrew from England duty early in the three-week window. However, some players returned to training at London Colney last week, offering positive news for Mikel Arteta.
Tzolis and Havertz suffer hamstring injuries
Tzolis saw an early goal ruled out for Greece in Thursday night's Nations League clash with the Netherlands before suffering a hamstring injury. He went down and covered his face with his shirt as he received treatment, initially refusing to come off, according to Greece head coach Ivan Jovanovic. Tzolis was replaced in the 18th minute and is said to have undergone a scan in Greece on Friday before returning to Arsenal.
Early reports claim the winger could be out for up to three weeks, potentially missing games against Leeds, Lille, Nottingham Forest and Bayern Munich. That timeframe could see him back for the visit of Everton on October 24, followed by a trip to Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup last 16 and a showdown with Liverpool at Anfield.
Havertz suffered his own hamstring issue against the Netherlands while playing for Germany in the Nations League, a week before Tzolis's injury. He was also an early withdrawal and headed back to Arsenal, having been named in Jurgen Klopp's split squad for two of Germany's four games across the window. Havertz has undergone a scan, with results unclear, but it is thought he has avoided another serious setback and any absence is likely to last weeks rather than months.
Rice and defenders expected to return
Rice withdrew from the England squad before their Nations League games against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia, along with Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento. That move is thought to be due to load management rather than a new injury, with Rice having dealt with long-term neural hamstring pain radiating into his lower back and having endured a busy summer at the World Cup, where he also battled illness and a calf complaint. He is reported to have been on a break in Dubai and is expected to be fit to start against Leeds on Saturday.
William Saliba has yet to play this season due to a long-term back injury exacerbated while on duty for France at the World Cup finals. Though he avoided surgery, he was expected to be sidelined for months. No new official updates have been forthcoming, but recent reports from France claim Saliba is running again after a positive scan and is targeting a comeback around November or December.
Ben White was unavailable for England selection after suffering a groin injury during Arsenal's win at Sunderland on September 12. He missed the Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich and the 3-0 Premier League defeat by Brighton, with Three Lions boss Tuchel bemoaning his absence. However, White avoided serious injury and was spotted back at Arsenal training last week.
Defensive reinforcements ahead of Leeds
Piero Hincapie has been back training with Arsenal after being omitted from Ecuador's squad for friendlies against South Korea, Japan and Panama due to a muscle problem. He missed the Carabao Cup win at Ipswich but was an unused substitute against Brighton and should be available for selection against Leeds.
Cristhian Mosquera, the fourth of Arsenal's previously injured defenders seen back in training last week, has not played since sustaining a hamstring problem during the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on August 31. He is now fit again and should bolster Arteta's defensive options against Leeds, with teenager Marli Salmon completing the quartet of returning players.
