Arteta will need to be careful with his team selectionplaceholder image
Arteta will need to be careful with his team selection | Getty Images
Arsenal are already in a strong position, but they could be in an even better one on the other side of the international break.
Arsenal will be looking forward to the last international break of 2025 being over given what Mikel Arteta has to look forward to on the other side.
Not only are his side still top of the Premier League table and four points clear, but the Gunners boss will be buoyed by the potential return of several injured key players to strengthen a squad that is already looking capable of winning the league.
Those who have been missing in recent weeks will have two weeks to improve their fitness under the watchful gaze of the gaffer, this is when the walking wounded might return to action.
Return timeline for Arsenal’s injured players
Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres has been missing for almost two weeks now with no real clarity over the severity of the hamstring injury that he suffered against Burnley.
The £64million summer signing has missed the last two games against Sunderland and Slavia Prague and Arteta will be hoping for a timeline in the coming days. No news is normally good news, however, on this occasion, there is cause for concern given that a hamstring injury is an easy one to diagnose. Return date: unknown.
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz isn’t far away having missed all but the opening game of the season. The Germany international had knee surgery but is now closing in on a return to fitness. There might be a temptation to rush the versatile forward back to action with Gyokeres being out especially with Arteta being excited to get players like Havertz back: “[It will be] a huge boost for the squad to have those players available again after such a long, long time,” said Arteta recently. “Really happy that I think it is going to be very soon.
“We need to get players back because we are missing seven players in the front line for the last two months.” Return date: potentially 23rd November v Spurs.
Martin Odegaard
It is an indication of the depth of Arsenal’s squad this season that they haven’t really missed Martin Odegaard during his periods of absence this season. The Norwegian hasn’t been called up to the international squad for this break and the extra two weeks in the gym and out on the pitch could benefit Arsenal in terms of a speedy return. Arteta expects some of his key players back in two weeks time and Odegaard could well be one of them. Return date: potentially 23rd November Spurs.
Long term absentee returns to first team training
Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke has been a big miss for Arsenal in terms of the electrifying start that he made to life at the Emirates after signing from Chelsea. His replacements have done well in his absence but after more than six weeks out, the England international won’t be too far away when Arteta picks his squad for the first North London derby of the season. Return date: potentially 23rd November v Spurs.
Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli picked up a knock at the end of October and has suffered nothing sinister, however, it has been enough to keep him out of the Brazil squad for the next two weeks. He is another who could return when Spurs visit the Emirates at the end of November. Return date: potentially 23rd November v Spurs.
Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Jesus is back in full training with the first team; however, he still has a long way to go until he will be match ready. How his knee reacts to higher intensity training and impact sessions will determine when he can be pencilled in. Another month of time on the pitch with his teammates and Arteta might be tempted to gradually introduce him. Return date: December 2025.
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