Rice, Saliba, Timber: Arsenal and injury and dates as nine players could miss Wolves clashplaceholder image
Rice, Saliba, Timber: Arsenal and injury and dates as nine players could miss Wolves clash | Getty Images
Arsenal injury and potential return dates as Mikel Arteta could have nine players absent for Saturday’s clash with Wolves
Arsenal have the opportunity to put some pressure back on Manchester City on Saturday night as they host winless Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are two points clear at the top of the Premier League after losing to Aston Villa in dramatic fashion last weekend. However, if they can get the job done against Wolves, it will crank up the pressure on City to win at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Mikel Arteta could be missing up to nine players for the game. One will be Riccardo Calafiori, who is suspended for the game after picking up five yellow cards. He was booked in in the defeat at Villa. If he racks up 10 bookings before Arsenal’s 32nd game, he will be hit with a two-game ban under Premier League rules.
As Arteta mulls over selection issues for the clash with Wolves, here is the latest on when the club’s eight injured players could return - with Calafiori free to return after the game on Saturday night.
Arsenal injury and return dates
Cristhian Mosquera
The defender is out for a number of weeks and is not expected to return until early January. Arteta said last weekend: “He's going to be out for weeks. Unfortunately, it's much more than what we expected. But the player was feeling it, so he's going to be out for weeks.”
Potential return date v Bournemouth, January 3
Kai Havertz
The German international has been out since August with a knee problem. Arteta last gave an update around 10 days ago, saying he was a few weeks away. The Spaniard said: “Matter of weeks. Let's see how it evolves. He's doing really well, he's doing stuff on the pitch, but I think he needs some time. He was doing everything; he could not go to the next level. We are all desperate to have him.'
Potential return date v Aston Villa, December 30
The defender picked up an injury while on international duty with Brazil. Arteta said in early December that he was still a few weeks away from returning to action.
Potential return date v Aston Villa, December 30
William Saliba
Arteta provided an update on the Frenchman on Friday morning, stating: “He hasn’t trained with us yet. Let’s see if he can be available.”
Potential return date v Wolves, December 13
Declan Rice
The midfielder has been struggling with illness, Arteta also provided an update on him on Friday. The Arsenal boss said: “Let’s see how he is today. He was ill. Normally, in a few days, it gets resolved.”
Potential return date v Wolves, December 13
Jurrien Timber
The defender is another who could be back against Wolves, Arteta said on Friday: “It depends on how he feels today. It's a matter of days.”
Potential return date v Wolves, December 13
Leandro Trossard
The Belgian might also be back against Wolves on Saturday night. Arteta said: “It depends on how he feels today. It's a matter of days.”
Potential return date v Wolves, December 13
Max Dowman
The rising star is expected to miss the next two months with an ankle ligament injury. Arteta said in midweek: “First of all with Max, unfortunately he picked up an injury last weekend and he had to come off.”
He added: "It’s part of the journey. At some point when you play at this level, when you play in the position that he plays, the manner that he plays, it was going to happen and it happened. OK, it's not ideal, it will be a matter of weeks, it could have been worse. Learn from it and use this time now to continue improving in his education, in everything related to professional football, his habits, the way he needs to develop his physicality, and his understanding of the game.
“Sometimes when you're away from the game, you say, ‘I cannot really live without it, and how important it is.’ So use those moments as well to get a reflection of where you are as well, and if you are better, of course, go forward."
Potential return date v Sunderland, February 7
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