The Premier League will be back in midweek as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all vie for the title, but each club has a number of issues with regards to injuries at present
Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca walk
Arsenal and Chelsea will have to balance player injuries in December
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Everything you need to know with regards to injuries for Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, as Premier League action resumes this week...
William Saliba's status: Defender William Saliba was a surprise late absence for the recent league match against Chelsea, after sustaining a knock during a training session. He must now undergo a series of scans and tests to determine the full extent of the issue and establish a definitive return date.
Gabriel Magalhaes' thigh injury: Fellow key defender Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to miss a sustained period after picking up a thigh injury while on international duty with Brazil. Current estimates suggest the centre-back could be out of action for approximately one to two months, making his return likely near the new calendar year.
Broader squad concerns for Arsenal: Other Arsenal players are also facing injury issues, although some key stars have recently made welcome returns to the squad. Forward Leandro Trossard sustained a knock against Bayern Munich and faces a late decision on whether he will be fit enough to feature against Brentford. Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are also still on the road to recovery. Read the full story here.
Moises Caicedo banned: Moises Caicedo was shown a red card during Chelsea's clash with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Ecuadorian midfielder will now miss matches against Leeds, Bournemouth and Everton. Read the full story here.
Chelsea hit by injury issues: Elsewhere, Enzo Maresca will have to navigate a number of injured players as he approaches a hectic period in the build-up to the new year. Levi Colwill is out of action for the season, while the return dates of Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia are unknown.
Man City's Rodri setback: Manchester City has been dealt a major midfield blow with the further extension of star player Rodri's hamstring injury absence. The key Spanish international has already missed nearly two months of action and will now be unavailable for the upcoming game against Fulham and potentially Sunderland.
Impact of Rodri's absence: Rodri's extended side-line spell is a massive concern, as he is vital to Manchester City's midfield structure, tactical balance, and general stability. His continued unavailability may put extra pressure on the rest of the squad, especially during a congested period of fixtures.
AFCON disruption for City: Beyond injuries, Manchester City is also dealing with squad availability issues related to the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. The club is currently in disagreement with the Egyptian national team over the release date of forward Omar Marmoush.
Marmoush availability dispute: Manchester City plans to retain Marmoush until December 14th before allowing him to join his country for AFCON preparations. This crucial tournament may cause the forward to miss up to ten fixtures across various competitions, adding significant long-term squad depth concerns for the club. Read the full story here.