A look at the Arsenal injury latest after a fresh scare during the international break.
Arsenal are currently on break due to the international period, the final of the season, but it doesn’t mean their players are not in action. A number of their first-team stars are representing respective nations, and Mikel Arteta will be hoping that everyone returns safe and sound.
The Gunners are next in action on April 1 when they face Fulham in the Premier League, but that game will spark a busy period that sees them take on Everton on April 5 and Real Madrid in the Champions League three days later. Here we run you through the injury latest after a fresh scare during the internationals.
When will Riccardo Calafiori return?
We don’t know much about the extent of Riccardo Calafiori’s injury just yet. What we do know is that the left-back suffered a very awkward fall during Italy’s Nations League quarter-final first leg defeat to Germany on Thursday night.
He then withdrew having ‘felt something’, according to Italy boss Luciano Spaletti, and he will now be a doubt for the second leg this weekend, and indeed Arsenal’s clash with Fulham, but the positive is that the Premier League date isn’t until Tuesday, April 1, so there is extra time for Calafiori to recover, with other teams in either Premier League or FA Cup action next weekend.
What about Bukayo Saka?
Saka is looking at a return some time in April, with Arteta having said before the break: “Yes, he's got a good chance [of returning in April]. He is going to be here [at London Colney], hopefully, more with the ball at his feet than he has had. He's getting closer; he's stepping up and making very good progress.”
The winger has been out for months with a hamstring injury, but he will be a welcome boost for the Gunners as they prepare for the Champions League quarter-finals next month.
The long-term absentees
There is little doubt over Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who are all out for the season. Jesus will be out until near the end of 2025 with an ACL rupture, while Havertz is out until some time in the summer after hamstring surgery.
Tomiyasu has been out all season with a knee injury that later required surgery. He will be out until some point next autumn.
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