A round-up of the latest Arsenal injury news ahead of the Gunners hosting Brentford on Saturday as Mikel Arteta provides updates on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
The Emirates Stadium outfit welcome the Bees to north London this weekend with a chance to go atop the Premier League table. Arsenal head into the weekend two points behind first-place Liverpool after 27 games. But the Reds face second-place Manchester City on Sunday.
Arsenal would lead the top-flight standings after 28 games with a win over Brentford even if Liverpool and Manchester City draw. Arteta’s club have the division’s best goal difference so far at +45 through their table-topping offence with 68 goals and defence with 23 conceded.
Arsenal injury list ahead of hosting Brentford
A whopping 31 of Arsenal’s 68 goals have even come during their last seven Premier League matches to three conceded. But Martinelli and Saka could not see out their 6-0 win away to Sheffield United this Monday night. Now, the duo must prove their fitness to face Brentford.
Arteta will also be without Arsenal’s No1 goalkeeper, David Raya, with the on-loan Spaniard ineligible to face Brentford. He quit the Bees for the Gunners last August and quickly ousted Aaron Ramsdale. But Raya will join Arsenal’s injury-hit stars on their sidelines this Saturday…
Bukayo Saka injury latest
Arteta substituted Saka at half-time as Arsenal thrashed Sheffield United this Monday as the winger reported feeling unwell. But the 22-year-old is set to face Brentford on Saturday after recovering during the week. He has started 26 of their 27 Premier League fixtures this term.
Saka still managed to pen two assists at Bramall Lane after Jayden Bogle turned his cross in for an own goal before feeding Declan Rice. His display took Saka to 10 assists and 13 goals in 26 games. Now, Arteta hopes that Saka and Martinelli can face Brentford at the weekend.
Arteta said during his pre-game press conference on Thursday: “We’ve got some players back last Monday and then we had Martinelli and Bukayo with little issues. We’re pretty positive that, hopefully, they can be part of that [group]. But we’ll have to see.”
Expected return: Brentford (March 9)
Gabriel Martinelli injury latest
Arsenal’s medical team helped Martinelli off in the 64th minute at Sheffield United after the 22-year-old sustained a cut to his foot. The Brazilian had scored and assisted once a piece at Bramall Lane. But Arteta does not expect to be without their forward at home to Brentford.
Martinelli’s involvement in their six-goal drubbing over the Blades took him to six goals and four assists in 25 Premier League fixtures this term. He has also started 23 of the Guarulhos natives’ games. Arteta was last without Martinelli due to his hamstring injury in September.
Expected return: Brentford (March 9)
Oleksandr Zinchenko injury latest
Arsenal are hopeful of having Oleksandr Zinchenko back from his calf injury when Brentford visit Emirates Stadium. The left-back has not featured since Arteta replaced the 27-year-old at half-time during the Gunners’ 3-1 win at home to title rivals Liverpool in early February.
Zinchenko had been played through the injury during January but, ultimately, could not last longer. He initially missed Arsenal’s defeat at Fulham on New Year’s Eve with the calf injury. Centre-back Jakub Kiwior has also stood in for Zinchenko through his recent injury lay-off.
Expected return: Brentford (March 9)
Takehiro Tomiyasu injury latest
Arteta revealed following Arsenal’s 6-0 drubbing of Sheffield United that Takehiro Tomiyasu is ‘very close’ to returning from his calf injury. The 25-year-old has not featured for Arsenal since New Year’s Eve having sustained the injury whilst representing Japan at the Asian Cup.
Tomiyasu had returned from a calf injury to replace Kiwior at Fulham having missed each of Arsenal’s previous five Premier League matches. He has now sat out all of their seven-game winning streak, in part due to the Asian Cup, too. But his return on Saturday is on the cards.
Expected return: Brentford (March 9)
David Raya (ineligible)
Arsenal will likely turn back to Ramsdale to start against Brentford on Saturday given Raya is ineligible to face his parent club. Arteta recalling the England international would mark only the second time he has deployed the 25-year-old in the Premier League since September 3.
Expected return: FC Porto (March 12)
Jurrien Timber injury latest
Arsenal boss Arteta has lauded Jurrien Timber in recent weeks for the defender’s attitude at London Colney as he recovers from his ACL injury. But the Dutchman is still working his way back to full fitness following surgery last August. He suffered the blow in his top-flight debut.
Hopes had arisen that Timber could potentially return from his ACL injury when Arsenal host Porto in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie without any further issues. But it is increasingly likely that Arteta may have to wait until after the March international break.
Expected return: Manchester City (March 31)
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