The latest Arsenal injury news and expect return dates ahead of their Premier League showdown with Leeds.
Arsenal have endured a pretty difficult fortnight for a team that hasn’t even played a game. The international break has brought fresh injury concerns with it, and the Gunners could be missing quite a few first-team players when they take on Leeds United in the Premier League this Saturday.
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Winger Christos Tzolis is the latest regular starter to pick up a potentially problematic injury while away with their country, and he could be one of seven players who are at risk of missing further time due to fitness issues.
With the return of domestic football fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Arsenal injury news below, along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available – and an update on the status of William Saliba.
How bad is Christos Tzolis’ injury?
Christos Tzolis was injured during Greece's Nations League campaignplaceholder image
Christos Tzolis was injured during Greece's Nations League campaign | Getty Images
Summer signing Christos Tzolis went down inside the first 20 minutes’ of Greece’s 2-2 Nations League draw with the Netherlands, and was substituted what was later confirmed to be a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old appeared keen to continue playing initially, which suggested that the issue might not be severe, but he has now left the Greek squad to return to London, with initial scans indicating that he will miss some time.
Reports from the Greek media suggest that Tzolis faces two to three weeks on the sidelines, meaning that he will miss the upcoming games against Leeds and Lille at the Emirates, and likely the trip to Nottingham Forest on 18 October. The subsequent games against Bayern Munich and Everton seem to be more likely targets for his comeback.
Tzolis became the second Arsenal player to pick up a problematic injury during the extended international break after Germany forward Kai Havertz, who suffered a hamstring strain of his own – also against the Netherlands.
Havertz is also now back in the UK, but the results of scans have not yet been made public. The Evening Standard report that he will be out for weeks rather than months, suggesting that he may be on a similar timeline to Tzolis, but that is still to be confirmed by the club.
Saliba & Rice updates as Arsenal prepare for Leeds showdown
Declan Rice is expected to be fit to face Leeds this weekendplaceholder image
Declan Rice is expected to be fit to face Leeds this weekend | Getty Images
Yet another player who has been working his way through a hamstring injury is key midfielder Declan Rice, who withdrew from England’s Nations League squad in order to manage a troublesome issue which has forced him to play through pain since the spring.
Rice has been on holiday in Dubai while he rests through the international break and there are no indications that his injury has worsened – he is expected to be available for Saturday’s match against Leeds.
Three other players missed out on international selection as a result of fitness problems: Cristhian Mosquera (hamstring), Ben White (groin) and Piero Hincapié (unknown) are all coming back from recent knocks and strains, but are anticipated to be available for the weekend. Hincapié has already been spotted back in training, with the other two likely to follow in the coming days.
There is also good news concerning William Saliba, who has yet to feature this season after aggravating a back injury while at the World Cup with France. According to L’Equipe, the centre-back has returned to light training and is already running on grass – and is targeting a November return, although the exact date has not yet been set.