Arsenal faced Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, but Mikel Arteta has a number of injuries beginning to pile up
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter
15:50, 27 Dec 2025Updated 16:00, 27 Dec 2025
Mikel Arteta speaks with Riccardo Calafiori
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Riccardo Calafiori suffered an injury during the pre-match warm-up for Brighton(Image: Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta gave injury updates on Jurrien Timber and Gabriel ahead of Arsenal's clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The Gunners headed into the match in need of all three points to leapfrog Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League table, after Pep Guardiola's men claimed a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the early kick-off.
However, when Arsenal's team news was released on social media an hour and a quarter ahead of their 3pm encounter, one name was missing that left fans scratching their heads; despite being pictured arriving at the Emirates Stadium, Timber was nowhere to be seen on the team-sheet. Arteta was quick to clear up the situation. Speaking with Sky Sports News ahead of kick-off, the head coach said: "We missed him because in the last part of the game he felt something and he could not carry on so he's out."
That wasn't the only blow, as Riccardo Calafiori was then announced as being replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly moments ahead of kick-off, as a result of becoming injured during his pre-match warm-up.
Their absences add to Arsenal's defensive issues. Ben White is currently side-lined through an issue with his hamstring, while Cristhian Mosquera is expected to be out until the New Year due to an ankle problem.
READ MORE: Why Jurrien Timber is not in Arsenal squad for Brighton clash as Mikel Arteta gives updateREAD MORE: Arsenal handed nightmare injury scenario as last-minute change for Brighton clash made
Elsewhere, teenage wonderkid, Max Dowman, is currently nursing an ankle injury of his own which will keep him out for a number of weeks. While Kai Havertz is also on the road to recovery from a knee injury which has forced him to miss most of the season, Saturday's match against Brighton has come a little too soon for the attacking midfielder to feature.
Speaking about the German in his midweek press conference, Arteta explained: "I think it will be a matter of days, if not weeks. Let's see in the next step how he responds to that.
"He's a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I'm really happy to have him back very soon."
Gabriel was another doubt headed into this weekend's fixture, with Arteta saying in the same conference: "We'll have to wait and see. He hasn't trained yet, he's still doing his rehab. But hopefully as quickly as possible because we know the situation that we have in the back line."
Gabriel looks on
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Gabriel returned from injury(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
However, Arsenal fans worldwide will have been delighted to spot the Brazilian's name appear on on the subs bench ahead of kick-off. Piero Hincapie also returned to the fray after missing Arsenal's midweek Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace as a result of a knock sustained against Everton last weekend.
Arteta will know that he cannot afford any further player injuries during Saturday's outing with Brighton, especially as the race for the Premier League title starts to heat up on the home stretch.
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