Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping to get back to winning ways as they host Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday in the third round of the FA CUP.
The Gunners have lost their previous two games sending them into fourth on the league table. With a cold and stagnant aura, Arteta will be hoping to make a statement. However, a couple of players are injury concerns for the Spaniard. Here’s the Gunners injury concerns.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Zinchenko missed out on the clash against Fulham through a calf injury, coming as a huge blow to Mikel Arteta and his side. The Ukrainian international’s issue was only described as “slight” though, with hopes that will mean he is back in action as soon as possible – especially with Tomiyasu set to depart for the Asia Cup soon.
Injury: Calf
Expected return date : Liverpool (H) – January 7
What Arteta has said: “He’s progressing well. We have another training session tomorrow. We’ll evaluate if he’s available to play and ready to start the game. The rest there is no news.”
Thomas Partey
Partey underwent a ‘procedure’ in November which was expected to keep him out for the remainder of the year, football.london understands. Despite Arteta suggesting he could return, the midfielder looks certain to miss the game after being left out of the Ghana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations
Injury: Thigh
Expected return date : February 2024
What Arteta has said: “It was about common sense. He had a long term injury. He was trying to push his rehab because he really wanted to be with his national team, but he’s still far from training with the team and it didn’t make sense for him to be involved.”
What Ghana boss Chris Hughton said: “Thomas Partey for sure, and I say this not in a detrimental way to the squad that we have, but he is one of our most important players.
“This we know and, withstanding his injury, he certainly would be in the squad. We know the quality of player that he is. This is a player that has a substantial injury.
“I’ve spent a lot over this period of time with Thomas and also engaging with the medical staff at Arsenal Football Club. They will treat this injury with caution, and so will the player. This is a big injury for him and the biggest injury that he’s had.
“The most important thing for me as head coach and our association is to give him the support that he needs through this period of time. From all the information that we’ve been given, the timelines of his recovery and the caution that will be taken, will not meet our timelines for the AFCON.”
Ben White
White missed the win over Burnley earlier in the season with an injury that appears to still be plaguing him. football.london understands it is a knee issue that he has been managing since the defeat to Newcastle, with it worrying enough to see him miss the clash against Burnley.
Expected return date: Liverpool (H) January 7
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka is managing an injury, according to a recent report from the Mirror, with a recurring Achilles problem. However, he has continued to play on through the issue, but a third round FA Cup tie and Premier League winter break could provide him with some needed rest.
Expected return date: Liverpool (H) January 7
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu suffered a calf injury in the second half of Arsenal’s clash against Wolves and was expected to be out of action until the new year. Arsenal were hopeful of Tomiyasu returning before heading to the Asia Cup with Japan. He came off the bench at half-time of the clash against Fulham, but has now departed for international football with Japan.
Expected return date: After Asian Cup
Fabio Vieira
Vieira was nursing a groin issue and underwent surgery on the injury. The former Porto man has struggled so far for game time under Arteta and his latest setback is likely to provide further woes.
Injury: Groin.
Expected return date: Mid to late January 2024.
What Arteta has said: “Yeah we’ve got a problem with him. He’s been having some discomfort. We sent him to see a specialist and the advice was to have an operation in his groin. He did that yesterday. We don’t expect him back this side of the winter break.”
Jurrien Timber
Timber, who joined the Gunners from Ajax in summer, suffered a devastating injury on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. At the end of the first half of Arsenal’s clash against Nottingham Forest, the 22-year-old defender went down clutching his right knee.
As it transpired, Timber’s ACL injury wasn’t as bad as first feared, with the estimate now a return between March and May of next year. Having been pictured most recently on Arsenal’s club trip to Rwanda, there is a growing belief that fans should see the former Ajax man in action before the end of the current campaign.
Injury: ACL
