Arsenal have been boosted by the imminent return of captain Martin Odegaard from injury, but now face fresh worries over Declan Rice.
The return of Odegaard is a timely lift for the Gunners, who lost 1-0 at Newcastle on Saturday and face Inter Milan away in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Arsenal have badly missed Odegaard and now face a headache over Rice, though Gabriel, Jurrien Timber and Ben White are all fit again after a spate of injuries hit Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Here’s the latest on Arsenal injury news…
Martin Odegaard
Arsenal's influential captain has been absent since suffering an ankle injury during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League win over Austria in September, but has this week returned to training and is pushing to be available for selection against Inter.
When writing in his programme notes ahead of the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on October 27, the midfielder revealed he was “close” to a return when providing an update on his fitness.
“I’ve been out for a few weeks now, and have been working hard to get back as soon as possible,” he wrote. "As I said in my notes on Tuesday, I feel like it’s close now, but although I haven’t been involved in the games lately, I feel I’ve still been able to use that time pretty well too.
"Hopefully I can come out of this period fresher and stronger and ready for the rest of the season. That’s the aim now, look at the positives and use this time in a good way. When I’m back I’m going to be feeling pretty good, I’m sure."
Potential return date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 vs Inter
Declan Rice
As Odegaard returns, midfield partner Declan Rice has been hit with his own fitness concern.
The midfielder was absent from the group on show at London Colney for opening training on Tuesday and has been ruled out of the Inter game.
Rice has been a virtual ever-present for Arsenal this season and has missed just two games, their 1-0 win over Tottenham in September due to suspension and then last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Preston when he was rested.
He completed the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle and missed a late chance to equalise in injury time.
Potential return date: Unknown
Riccardo Calafiori
After being forced off during the 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk last month, Calafiori has missed Arsenal's last three games against Liverpool, Preston and Newcastle.
The Italian is unlikely to feature for the Gunners before the November international break after Arteta revealed his big-money summer signing would "be out for a few weeks”.
Fortunately for Arsenal, they have plenty of options to cover for Calafiori at left-back with Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Potential return date: Unknown
Takehiro Tomiyasu
No sooner did Tomiyasu return to action then he was back on the sidelines, after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury six minutes into his first appearance of the season against Southampton last month.
His return date remains unclear but Arteta has confirmed the versatile defender will not play again before the November international break.
Potential return date: Unknown
Kieran Tierney
The forgotten man at Arsenal has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury at Euro 2024.
It remains to be seen how much of a role, if any, Tierney will have for the Gunners before the January transfer window opens but he is expected take part in first-team training fairly soon.
"I think he's quite close," Arteta revealed last week. "He's looking really good. I think he's over the period where he was still struggling, so he looks really sharp out there.
“He hasn't trained with the team yet but hopefully, he can do that in the next week or two."
Potential return date: Unknown
