Arsenal taught ‘big lesson’ by Brighton, says boss Mikel Arteta
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal are dealing with some key injury concerns as we head towards the return of the Premier League at the weekend.
It has been a difficult international break thus far for the Gunners, who have been hit by some high-profile setbacks and other scares involving important players.
Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz are both now sidelined, while Martin Odegaard has been battling an issue of his own and Declan Rice withdrew from England duty right at the start of an extended three-week window.
Ezri Konsa also pulled out of the Three Lions squad on Monday to add to Mikel Arteta’s growing headache.
However, there has been some good news after a handful of players all returned to training at London Colney last week, while Odegaard quickly recovered from an ankle problem to resume action for Norway.
Here is all the latest Arsenal injury news and return dates before Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium in a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.
Ezri Konsa
Konsa will play no part against the Czech Republic on Tuesday after exiting the England squad on Monday.
The centre-back initially suffered an unspecified knock during the defeat by Spain at Wembley, subsequently sitting out training and remaining an unused substitute for the win over the Czech Republic in Prague.
Konsa returned to play the full 90 minutes of the 7-0 thrashing of Croatia on Saturday, but has since been ruled out of a second meeting with the Czechs and returned to north London for assessment.
Setback: Ezri Konsa is an important player for Arsenal with William Saliba sidelined
Standard Sport understands that while Konsa’s injury - a dead leg - is not believed to be serious, it is as yet unclear whether he will be fit enough to play against Leeds this weekend.
Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment
Max Dowman
Max Dowman was forced to withdraw from England’s Under-19s squad over the weekend, with his departure from the camp quietly confirmed a day before the Young Lions s were beaten by Belgium 1-0.
The 16-year-old had previously appeared in all three of the side’s matches this international break, picking up one goal and one assist in victories over Ireland, Norway and the United States.
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He was dismissed in that match, though, after a reckless challenge.
Max Dowman has emerged as a new injury concern for Arsenal
However, it has been reported that Dowman suffered a contact injury which is not thought to be serious enough to sideline him for a significant period.
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)
Christos Tzolis
Tzolis saw an early goal ruled out for Greece in Thursday night’s Nations League clash with the Netherlands, before quickly suffering a hamstring injury.
He went down and covered his face with his shirt as he received treatment, initially refusing to come off, according to Greece head coach Ivan Jovanovic.
However, Tzolis was replaced in the 18th minute of the match and is said to have undergone a scan in Greece on Friday, before returning to Arsenal.
Sidelined: Christos Tzolis was injured while playing for Greece in the Nations League
Early reports claim that the winger could be out for up to three weeks, potentially missing games against Leeds, Lille, Nottingham Forest and Bayern Munich.
Such a timeframe could see Tzolis back in contention for the visit of Everton to north London on October 24, which is followed by a trip to fourth-tier Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup last 16 and showdown with Liverpool at Anfield.
Potential return date: Saturday October 24, vs Everton (H)
Kai Havertz
A week before Tzolis’ injury, fellow Arsenal forward Havertz had already suffered his own hamstring issue against the Netherlands while playing for Germany in the Nations League.
He too was an early withdrawal and also headed back to Arsenal, having only been named in Jurgen Klopp’s split squad for two of Germany’s four total games across the window.
Havertz has also undergone a scan following further assessment and treatment by the Gunners’ medical staff, with the results yet to become clear.
However, it is thought that he has avoided another serious injury setback and that any absence is likely to last for weeks rather than months.
Potential return date: October/November
Declan Rice
Fresh fears over Rice were sparked when he withdrew from the England squad before their Nations League games against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia, along with Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento.
However, it is thought that move was as a result of load management rather than any new injury, with Rice having been dealing with some issues including long-term neural hamstring pain that radiated into his lower back and having endured a busy summer at the World Cup when he also battled illness and a calf complaint.
Mixed news: Declan Rice should be fine for Arsenal, but Kai Havertz is injured
He is reported to have been on a break in Dubai and is expected to be fit to start when Arsenal face Leeds on Saturday.
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)
William Saliba
Saliba has yet to play for Arsenal this season due to a long-term back injury that he exacerbated while on duty for France at the World Cup finals this summer.
Though he avoided surgery, he was expected to be sidelined for a period of months in a huge blow to Arteta.
No new official updates on Saliba have been forthcoming of late, with Arteta previously insisting that his progress has been strong but that he was unsure of an exact timeframe for his return to the pitch.
The most recent reports from France have claimed that Saliba is now running again following a positive scan and is targeting a comeback around November or December.
Potential return date: December
Ben White
White was once again unavailable for England selection during this international window after suffering a groin injury during Arsenal’s win at Sunderland on September 12.
The versatile right-back missed the subsequent Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich and woeful 3-0 Premier League defeat by Brighton, with Three Lions boss Tuchel bemoaning his absence.
However, White avoided any serious injury and was spotted back at Arsenal training last week in the build-up to the visit of Leeds.
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)
Back in business: Arsenal have had good news on Piero Hincapie, Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera
Piero Hincapie
Hincapie has also been back training with Arsenal after being omitted from the Ecuador squad for friendlies against South Korea, Japan and Panama as the result of a muscle problem.
The defender missed the Carabao Cup win at Ipswich but was back on the bench against Brighton, where he was an unused substitute. He too should be available for selection against Leeds.
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)
Cristhian Mosquera
The fourth of Arsenal’s previously injured defenders to be seen back in training last week, with the quartet completed by teenager Marli Salmon.
Mosquera has not played at all since sustaining a hamstring problem during the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on August 31.
However, he is now fit again and should also help to bolster Arteta’s defensive options against Leeds.
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)