Arsenal are set to be without several players as the Gunners prepare to face Bayern Munich tonight in the Champions League
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta will be without several Arsenal players against Bayern Munich(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
View Image
All of the latest injury news ahead of Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Arsenal’s significant injury problems are finally starting to ease ahead of their Champions League match against Bayern Munich. The team had been dealing with a long list of fitness problems, at one point missing up to eight key first-team players including Bukayo Saka.
Club captain Martin Odegaard has been seen participating in full training sessions with the squad this week. This marks a positive step in his recovery after being sidelined since early October with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) knee problem, though it remains to be seen if he will be named in the matchday squad.
Striker Gabriel Jesus has also made a return to full training ahead of the European tie. Manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Jesus is very close to a full comeback and will play an organised practice game to regain match fitness. The eventual return of these two attacking players will provide a much-needed squad depth boost in the near future.
The overall health of the squad had already shown improvement, with three players returning to contention in the recent North London Derby victory against Tottenham. This suggests that more rotation options are becoming available to Arteta for the busy festive schedule.
Despite the positive news, a few key players remain on the treatment table and will be absent for the upcoming Bayern clash. These unavailable players include defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who is currently dealing with a thigh problem.
Fellow injured players Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres are reportedly making good progress in their respective recoveries. Both players are scheduled to undergo repeat scans to determine their fitness for the upcoming weekend.
The return of some of his star players presents Mikel Arteta with a selection dilemma as he must manage their reintegration carefully. The excellent form shown by some players, such as Eberechi Eze, who have filled the gaps during the injury crisis, will make the manager's decisions even more challenging.