football.london is on hand to provide injury updates on eight Arsenal players as the Gunners prepare to return to action on October 10 when Leeds United visit the Emirates Stadium in the lunchtime kick-off
Arsenal return to action on October 10 vs Leeds
Eight Arsenal players have been suffering from fitness issues at various stages of the international break
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Mikel Arteta makes no secret of the fact he does not like the international break, particularly as it has not been kind to Arsenal historically.
However, the three-week break actually gives the Gunners' injured stars time to rest and recover ahead of club football's return on October 10 when the Premier League champions host Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie are among the crop of stars that are not currently away with their national teams.
Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard and Ezri Konsa remain with Norway and England respectively, despite recent fitness issues.
football.london has assessed exactly when each player could return to action for Arsenal as the club gear up for a brutal run of Premier League, Champions League and EFL Cup fixtures.
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William Saliba
William Saliba's complex recovery from a back fracture that saw his body break down at the World Cup with France is so far going to plan.
Arteta has not once put a timeframe on the 25-year-old's return as Arsenal want to give the imperious central defender the space to recharge and fully heal before he's reintegrated back into the group.
It's partially why the club splashed out up to £55million inclusive of add-ons for a ready-made replacement in Konsa, who has eased the pressure on Saliba's shoulders to get back onto the field of play.
Nonetheless, the Frenchman is making strides in his recovery and it's understood he is now back running in moderation.
L'Equipe are reporting that Saliba underwent a scan around 10 days ago which confirmed his rehabilitation is progressing very well.
However, it could still be several weeks before he is able to train competitively and Arsenal are prepared to give the player as long as he needs to get back up to speed.
The crux of his rehab is believed to have taken place at Sobha, so he is still in and around his team-mates and not totally isolated.
A December return is still being mooted by sources close to his camp, though in recent days, there have been unfounded whispers that he could return to action for Arsenal in November.
Possible return date: December
William Saliba
William Saliba's World Cup ended in disaster due to a back injury(Image: (Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images))
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Cristhian Mosquera
Mosquera has been back in his homeland of Spain during the international break as he continues to rebuild and sharpen his fitness levels.
The versatile central defender has not played a single minute since he picked up a hamstring strain in the 1-0 Premier League win at Aston Villa on August 31.
However, he is now closing in on a return to action having actually attended the Amex Stadium for the shock 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
He was pushing to make the squad for that match but it was decided that he would not be risked and he has utilised the three-week interval to get some extra training under his belt.
In fact, last week, he was back at former club Valencia's Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna complex working with one of their rehabilitation specialists.
It's understood Mosquera was in the region to visit his family including 15-year-old brother Yulian, who currently plays for Valencia's U16 side.
The Premier League winner was spotted wearing Arsenal training kit during his sessions and he has also paid a visit to another one of his former clubs, Hercules, who he played for between 2013 and 2016 - just to catch up with some old faces.
Providing there are no setbacks, he is expected to be fit for the first game against Leeds United on October 10. Possible return date: Leeds United (H) - October 10
Cristhian Mosquera
Cristhian Mosquera picked up a muscle injury in Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Aston Villa(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Ben White
Thomas Tuchel recently indicated that White would have firmly been part of his England plans for the extended three-week international break for Nations League games against Spain, Czechia (twice) and Croatia had he not picked up an injury.
The former Leeds United and Brighton defender felt his groin in the closing stages of the first half in the crucial 2-0 Premier League win at Sunderland on September 12.
The belief is that it was a workload-related issue, as White had played a considerable chunk of football in the absence of Jurrien Timber during the opening weeks of the campaign.
However, Arteta indicated pre-Brighton that White's issue was not serious and that he had an outside chance of being fit to face the Seagulls.
Providing there has been no further setback over the past 11 days or so, he will be targeting a return against Leeds.
Possible return date: Leeds United (H) - October 10
Ben White
Ben White picked up a muscle problem in Arsenal's 2-0 win at Sunderland last month
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Declan Rice
Rice was forced to withdraw from England duty due to load management following an intense start to the campaign with Arsenal.
It should not be forgotten that the £105million midfielder battled neural hamstring pain (shooting sensations that actually reached his lower back) during the final weeks of last season and throughout the World Cup.
He needed a sufficient rest and while he did receive a respectable break, he was eager to return to the Arsenal fold for the start of the campaign.
Rice has been recharging over the course of the past few weeks. He attended England's 3-2 Nations League defeat to Spain alongside his young son last Saturday and has since been spotted in Dubai.
He is expected to be ready to face Leeds and will likely be back in Arsenal training before the majority of the club's other international stars.
Possible return date: Leeds United (H) - October 10
Declan Rice during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal FC.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice withdrew from the England squad due to load management(Image: Silvina Brodersohn - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Kai Havertz
Havertz is now back in the hands of Arsenal's medical staff after withdrawing from Germany's squad due to a hamstring strain sustained against Holland.
The initial feeling from sources close to the club was that the issue is not serious and is only likely to see Havertz miss a matter of weeks, as opposed to months.
Crucially, the hamstring in question (left) is not the same one that was operated on (right) back in February 2025 after he picked up a muscle tear during the Gunners' warm-weather winter training camp in Dubai.
Both Arsenal and the DFB treated Havertz's fitness with extra caution and it was immediately decided following initial tests that he'd head back to London for further assessment after he was grounded just 30 minutes into Germany's 1-1 Nations League draw with Holland last Thursday.
For now, he remains doubtful to face Leeds United and the Premier League champions will be reluctant to rush his return as they'll want to avoid a reoccurrence of the injury during a jam-packed schedule.
Possible return date: Leeds United (H) - October 10
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz picked up a hamstring strain for Germany and has returned to Arsenal(Image: Getty )
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Piero Hincapie
Hincapie was recently omitted from Marcelo Gallardo's first Ecuador squad for friendlies in Asia against South Korea and Japan due to injury.
He missed the 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich Town despite training the day before the trip to Portman Road. The versatile left-back was then back on the bench for the 3-0 defeat against Brighton, though he was not used. It has since emerged that Hincapie is struggling with a muscular problem, thought to be his groin.
Arsenal are assessing him closely and are managing his load. Sources close to the player indicate he is doubtful to face Leeds as the Gunners are trying to slowly rebuild his fitness via an individual training programme.
Hincapie will definitely be needed with the games coming thick and fast but Arsenal's medical staff are keen to protect the 24-year-old, who has been experiencing discomfort in recent weeks.
His condition will be monitored closely over the next nine days before the Gunners return to action.
Possible return date: Lille (H) - October 13
Piero Hincapie
Piero Hincapie was an unused sub for Arsenal at Brighton
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Martin Odegaard
Odegaard has been included in Norway's 23-man squad submitted to UEFA for Thursday's Nations League game against Wales.
He was back on the grass for a light session with his team-mates on Wednesday in Cardiff for the first time since Bernardo Silva's controversial late challenge.
The Arsenal captain was unable to train with Norway on Tuesday ahead of their departure but there has now been progress.
From a selfish perspective, the Gunners may have preferred if Odegaard was given permission to return to his club, particularly with a hotly-contested rematch against Portugal on the horizon this weekend.
But equally, it's positive that Odegaard's issue is seemingly not serious. Norway doctor Ola Sand carried out X-rays on the issue, according to assistant coach Brede Hangeland, and they revealed "nothing dramatic" where damage was concerned.
The Premier League champions remain in regular contact with Norway's medical staff, so there is clearly full transparency between the parties. Possible return date: Leeds United (H) - October 10
Martin Odegaard during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A4 MD2 match between Norway and Portugal.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will be available to face Wales this evening for Norway(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Ezri Konsa
Konsa picked up an unspecified issue in England's 3-2 Nations League defeat to Spain last weekend.
He missed Three Lions training prior to the departure for Prague and was an unused sub for their 2-0 win over 10-man Czechia on Tuesday evening as Thomas Tuchel continues to manage his fitness.
There is hope Konsa will be ready to start this Saturday when England take on Croatia in Rijeka but for now, there are no serious concerns over his condition.
Given Manchester City left-back Nico O'Reilly was actually left out of the England squad against Czechia in midweek, it must be deemed as a positive that Konsa was fit enough to be named on the bench.
Possible return date: Leeds United (H) - October 10