Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes injury
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered a detailed update on the fitness of several key players ahead of Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners will be aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table, where they currently sit three points clear of Manchester City. After a dominant 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, Arsenal will round off October with two home fixtures, first against Palace, then Brighton in the Carabao Cup last 16 next Wednesday.
However, Arteta continues to face selection headaches as injuries persist within his squad, and a fresh concern has now emerged ahead of the Palace clash.
Providing updates on Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus during Friday’s press conference, Arteta said: “They are all progressing really well. They have all started to do certain activities. They are all super willing to be available as quick as possible, but at the moment none of them are yet in contention in the next week or so.”
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One of the latest worries involves defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who opened the scoring against Atletico with a header from Declan Rice’s free-kick but was substituted late on after appearing to stretch his thigh. The Brazilian was replaced by summer signing Cristhian Mosquera with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Gabriel - Arsenal
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes (Image creidt: Getty Images)
Arteta confirmed that Gabriel has since been unable to train, putting his availability for the weekend in serious doubt.
“Obviously, Big Gabi had to leave the pitch with an issue and he hasn’t been able to train yet,” Arteta explained. “So, let’s see how he evolves in the next 24 hours, whether he is available or not for the weekend.”
Captain Martin Odegaard’s campaign has been disrupted by a string of fitness setbacks, starting with a shoulder injury earlier in the season. After returning against West Ham, the Norwegian playmaker then sustained a medial collateral ligament injury in his left knee, an issue that, according to Arteta, has ruled him out for “weeks.”
Arsenal Martin Odegaard knee injury
Martin Odegaard (Image credit: Getty Images)
Odegaard withdrew from Norway’s squad during the last international break to prioritize his recovery. While no official return date has been confirmed, reports suggest he could be sidelined until after the November international window, potentially missing at least seven matches.
Summer recruit Noni Madueke has also endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines. The winger, who joined from Chelsea, picked up a knee injury during last month’s clash with Manchester City and remains unavailable for several more weeks.
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“It looks like he is going to be out for a few weeks,” Arteta said. “We don’t really know yet. Probably we are going to have to scan him next week again. He felt something at the beginning of the match. He tried to carry on and at half-time it was too sore, so let’s see.”
Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke (Image credit: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are continuing their respective recoveries, with the duo expected to return to action in November and December.
Despite the setbacks, Arteta remains optimistic that his players’ commitment and ongoing progress will soon see Arsenal return to full strength as they continue their push for silverware on multiple fronts.
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