A round-up of the latest Arsenal injury news ahead of hosting Newcastle United, as boss Mikel Arteta offers updates on the fitness of Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey.
The Gunners will strive to return to winning ways at home to the Magpies on Saturday night. FC Porto handed Arsenal a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday. It ended Arteta’s team’s run of five straight wins with 21 goals to two conceded.
Arsenal have only won one of their last four meetings with Newcastle, though, including two defeats. Anthony Gordon also gave Newcastle a controversial 1-0 win over Arsenal when the teams last met in November. Arteta also called the VAR drama as St James’ Park ‘a disgrace’.
Arsenal injury list ahead of hosting Newcastle United
Since Gordon’s goal survived several checks by the VAR, Andy Madley, Arsenal have won 10 of their 14 Premier League fixtures. Only Liverpool (36) have also taken more points (31) in that period. Newcastle have won five of their last 14 top-flight matches and taken 17 points.
Eddie Howe’s side also now visit Emirates Stadium on a four-match unbeaten run in the top-flight. But Newcastle have not won away to Arsenal since 2010, losing 10 of their 11 league visits. So, with that in mind, here is Arsenal’s injury situation ahead of taking on Newcastle…
Thomas Partey injury latest
Arteta revealed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that Partey is ‘very close’ to his return from injury ahead of Arsenal hosting Newcastle. The 30-year-old has not featured for a second since October 8 after he sustained a thigh injury during training at London Colney.
Arsenal ultimately had to send Partey for surgery to resolve his injury, which also ruled him out of the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana. A further setback in his recovery has extended the midfielder’s spell on the sidelines, as well. So, Arteta is reluctant to rush Partey’s return.
“We have another session today,” Arteta explained in his pre-Newcastle press conference on Friday. “Obviously, he’s been out for many, many months now and we need to really nail the timing and when he has enough in the tank to compete. But I think he’s very close.”
Partey’s thigh injury also followed the 45-cap anchor returning from a groin issue as Arsenal beat Manchester City. The two injuries have combined to restrict the midfielder to only five appearances for 341 minutes in all competitions this season, with three also as a right-back.
Expected return: Newcastle United (February 24)
Gabriel Jesus injury latest
Arteta also revealed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that Jesus is closing in on a return from injury. But the Spaniard would not confirm if Jesus can play when Arsenal meet Newcastle on Saturday as the striker bids to overcome another aggravation of a knee injury.
“It’s the same with Gabby,” Arteta added in his press conference. “He’s done a few things.”
Jesus initially sustained a knee ligament injury at the 2022 World Cup with Brazil, which also required surgery. He also underwent another operation in August after reporting discomfort in the same knee. While a hamstring injury also sidelined Jesus over October and November.
Altogether, Jesus has only featured 23 times during Arsenal’s 36 games ahead of Newcastle visiting north London this season. The 26-year-old has also only scored eight goals and has laid on five assists. Only four of Jesus’ goals have come in 17 Premier League appearances.
Expected return: Newcastle United (February 24)
Fabio Vieira injury latest
Arteta welcomed Fabio Vieira back to his matchday squad as Arsenal lost 1-0 at Porto in the Champions League. But the 23-year-old is yet to feature since sustaining a groin injury while serving a three-match Premier League ban for a red card given against Burnley in November.
Vieira missed 15 games in all competitions after requiring surgery for the injury he suffered in training. Arteta could now afford the Portuguese his comeback appearance this Saturday at home to Newcastle. The playmaker has only played 13 times for 417 minutes this season.
Expected return: Newcastle United (February 24)
Oleksandr Zinchenko injury latest
Newcastle’s trip to Emirates Stadium is likely to come too soon to see Oleksandr Zinchenko’s return from his calf injury. Arteta also noted that the left-back is ‘not far’ away from a return to fitness ‘at all’ in his pre-match press conference. But doubts about his involvement linger.
Zinchenko failed to feature in Arsenal’s matchday team at Porto on Wednesday after having to sit out training on Tuesday. He last appeared on the field during the first half of Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Liverpool having failed to shake a persistent injury for the 27-year-old’s calf.
Expected return: Sheffield United (March 4)
Takehiro Tomiyasu injury latest
Arteta also admitted ahead of Arsenal hosting Newcastle that Takehiro Tomiyasu ‘still’ needs ‘a little bit more’ time before making a return. The full-back suffered a calf injury with Japan at the Asian Cup. He helped the Samurai Blue reach the quarter-finals as a pivotal presence.
The injury, plus international duty, means Tomiyasu has only featured once for Arsenal since early December. He returned from a previous calf injury during their 2-1 defeat at Fulham on New Year’s Eve. Arteta afforded Tomiyasu 45 minutes at Craven Cottage before he jetted off.
Expected return: Brentford (March 9)
Jurrien Timber injury latest
The only long-term absentee in Arsenal’s squad ahead of hosting Newcastle this Saturday is Jurrien Timber. But Arteta is ‘really’ hopeful of the 22-year-old returning from his ACL injury this season. He has not featured since the opening day of the 2023/24 Premier League term.
Arteta explained this Friday: “I really hope so. He’s doing really well. He’s been around some players on the pitch and we are going to start to do some bits with us in the next week or so.
“Then we need to see how that evolves, [plus] his confidence levels, his fitness levels and, hopefully, then the answer is ‘yes’.”
Expected return: FC Porto (March 12)
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
