Eberechi Eze, Jurriën Timber & Riccardo Calafioriplaceholder image
Eberechi Eze, Jurriën Timber & Riccardo Calafiori | Getty Images
The latest team news and injury updates ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clash with Atlético Madrid.
Arsenal got their Premier League title challenge back on track with a win against Newcastle over the weekend, but it may have come at a cost – new injury issues could derail Mikel Arteta’s preparations for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid, which takes place on Wednesday evening.
Both Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz were taken off with apparent injuries during Saturday’s 1-0 win, while Jurriën Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were still absent due to ongoing fitness concerns. Despite Bukayo Saka’s return to action as a substitute, six Gunners remain out or doubts for the midweek match at the Metropolitano Stadium.
With kick-off fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Arsenal injury news below, along with the absent players’ expected return dates when available.
How bad are Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz’s injuries?
Arsenal’s win over Newcastle was marred by the injuries to both Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze, with the former going off shortly after the half-hour mark and the latter being withdrawn early in the second period, both with apparent knocks.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said that both players had suffered “muscular niggles,” adding that “we have to wait and see if they can be available for Wednesday.”
The initial response suggests that neither player’s health is a source of major concern, although further tests will be required. In Havertz’s case, Arteta added that while he didn’t yet know the severity of the injury, “it didn’t look too big.”
Eze, meanwhile, told Sky Sports after the match that he was “all good” and that his substitution had been “just a precaution” after he felt some discomfort. He insisted that he would be “OK” – Eze himself clearly believes that he will be fit to face Atlético Madrid, and there are no indications that either is set for a lengthy lay-off as it stands.
There is also some concern over Martín Zubimendi, who came off late on against Newcastle and was later revealed to be struggling with illness: Arteta told the media that the Spaniard “wasn’t feeling good” at half-time and wasn’t able to see out the match. His status for Wednesday is somewhat uncertain as a result.
Will Jurriën Timber & Riccardo Calafiori return for Arsenal?
There is perhaps more concern about the availability of two of Arsenal’s best defenders – Jurriën Timber hasn’t featured for six weeks due to a groin injury, while Riccardo Calafiori has been out for three weeks due to an unspecified muscular problem.
The Italian appears to be the more likely of the two to return in time to face Atlético Madrid. Arteta had said prior to the win over Newcastle that Calafiori would “probably” make the squad for the weekend, and while that proved not to be the case the Arsenal head coach said after the game that Calafiori had been “very close” to a comeback. He is likely to be the squad that travels to Spain, but it is unclear whether he is ready to start.
Timber is less likely to be involved as it stands. The early timeline for his return had put the Dutchman on course to be involved this week but Arteta has not provided a full update and there have been no signs that he has returned to full training. The weekend’s fixture against Fulham may be a more realistic target.
One player who won’t be involved is midfielder Mikel Merino. Having undergone surgery on a stress fracture in his foot in February, the Spaniard is facing a race against time to return in time to play some part in Arsenal’s run-in and to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup. Arteta has not been drawn on whether he might play in May, saying that it was “a bit too early” to know whether he might be involved, but that the 29-year-old was “pushing every boundary” as he works to return. A mid-to-late May comeback remains a possibility.
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