Arsenal face a challenging period as key players Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Martin Odegaard, Eddie Nketiah, and Gabriel Jesus battle injuries.
Arsenal’s recent Champions League encounter with Sevilla proved costly, with Bukayo Saka sustaining an ankle injury that forced him off the pitch in the 85th minute.
Saka, who was fouled five times in the match without a single card being issued, managed to leave the field unassisted but was seen limping while celebrating Arsenal‘s 2-0 victory with his teammates.
After the game, Mikel Arteta commended Saka’s tenacity and ability to withstand the robust nature of the game, acknowledging the need for the player to adapt to such challenges.
Saka’s condition is particularly concerning with England manager Gareth Southgate poised to announce the squad for the European Championship qualifiers. Saka’s contribution, having set up and scored against Sevilla, underscores his importance, being the top English scorer in this season’s Champions League.
In a similar vein, Takehiro Tomiyasu‘s participation in upcoming matches hangs in the balance following an injury in the same match.
Arteta, opting for a cautious approach, replaced Tomiyasu with Oleksandr Zinchenko during halftime due to discomfort.
Tomiyasu, who has a history of knee and calf injuries since his move from Bologna in 2021, had been integral to Arsenal‘s campaign across all competitions this season.
The hope within the club is that the decision to substitute was merely a precautionary measure rather than a sign of a lengthy absence.
Injuries have put additional pressure on the squad as they prepare for their Premier League clash with Burnley.
Martin Odegaard, Arsenal‘s captain, is facing a race against time to recover from his injury, which may or may not be distinct from the hip issue he has been carrying.
Arteta expressed a cautious optimism about Odegaard’s potential return, noting the team’s effort to get the midfielder back to fitness ahead of the Burnley game.
However, Norway’s coach Ståle Solbakken shared his apprehension about Odegaard’s lingering injury, which could mark a significant absence for the national team in their upcoming games.
Eddie Nketiah‘s situation offers a glimmer of hope amidst the injury gloom, with the prospect of him returning to face Burnley.
Nketiah, who had filled in for Gabriel Jesus admirably with three goals in two games, missed the Sevilla victory due to an ankle injury.
Arteta’s latest update suggests Nketiah’s recovery is on a positive trajectory, contrasting with the more complicated case of Odegaard’s fitness.
Furthermore, the Brazilian national team’s coach, Fernando Diniz, has made the bold choice to include Gabriel Jesus in the squad for their November internationals.
Despite Jesus’s absence from Arsenal‘s last three games following an injury against Sevilla, and Arteta confirming his unavailability for the upcoming fixture, the call-up suggests Jesus might be fit for Arsenal‘s game against Brentford post-international break.