Arsenal are slowly moving towards an injury crisis in their squad after a host of their players have picked up knocks since the start of the season. England wonder-boy Bukayo Saka was the latest who became the victim as he sustained an injury during Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest. While manager Mikel Arteta has insisted it is nothing serious and the winger is quite hopeful of making the next month’s World Cup, the Gunners will still have to deal with a number of absentees.
Summer signings Oleksandr Zinchenko, Matt Turner and teenaged winger Marquinhos too have suffered fresh injuries, with the Ukrainian so far missing a significant 11 of Arsenal’s 17 games in all competitions. Emile Smith Rowe too is under rehab after undergoing surgery on his recurring groin injury. While the playmaker is seen in training, he is apparently not yet ready to return to action. Meanwhile, Arteta has issued some fresh updates over the injuries in his squad.
Arsenal sweating over fitness of key players
Bukayo Saka
Saka has been key figure of this Arsenal side under Arteta and was in blistering form before coming-off against Forest. The 21-year-old had already set-up Gabriel Martinelli’s opener in the opening 5 minutes of the game as his afternoon ended in the 27th minute after he went down fighting a duel with Forest’s Renan Lodi. Arteta said in his post match presser:
“Right from the beginning, he [Saka] was limping, but I don’t see any further than that. Let’s see how he is in the next couple of days. [About the location of Saka’s injury] I think both [foot or ankle]. He got kicked a few times, and he wasn’t comfortable.”
All things indicate that Saka won’t be missed for too long as The Sun reports he should be involved in the all important Chelsea showdown at the weekend. Arteta obviously won’t name him in the squad for the Gunners’ Europa League game against FC Zurich mid-week, meaning the youngster will have extra rest to recover in time.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Arriving from Manchester City for £32 million this summer, Zinchenko made a quick impact at Arsenal. However, fans have gone from cheers to jeers for the 25-year-old who has missed more than 50% of the club’s fixtures this season. Speaking of the versatile defender’s injury, Arteta said:
“Zinchenko had a recurring injury in his calf. That’s why he’s been out for this period.”
As per the reports from London Colney, the club’s medical staff is looking to get the Ukrainian back in action as soon as possible, but are not going to rush it. And since it’s a recurring injury, the club will have to be more careful.
Emile Smith Rowe
Smith Rowe has been out for the longest period of time. After scoring 10 goals and providing 2 assists in 33 Premier League last season, it was expected the No.10 will explode this season for the Gunners. However, a groin injury, and a subsequent surgery on it has derailed his progress. The Arsenal boss had explained it a couple of weeks ago, as he told reporters in a press conference:
“That’s been an ongoing issue that he [Smith Rowe] has had. He’s had some discomfort in the groin area and hasn’t had any continuity this season. It’s something we are trying to assess. We’re trying to help him as much as possible in any way we can because we need him fit, we need him available, and we need him performing at his best level because he’s such an important player for us. Unfortunately, for this period and periods last year, we haven’t had him.”
The attacker is expected to be out until the turn of the year, but an exact return date for him is not determined as of yet.
Mohamed Elneny
The midfielder, on the back of some impressive displays last season was handed with a new contract at the end of the season until the summer of 2023, with an option of another 12 months. However, he too has been nursing a long-term hamstring injury, but is back in training. But his return too won’t be rushed as he is expected to be available for selection post the World Cup. Ahead of the Forest game, Arteta on the midfielder said:
“We still need to see another specialist, but I’m afraid we’re going to lose Mo [Elneny] for a while. Obviously, that has an impact because Thomas is injured, and we are a bit short in that position.”
Matt Turner
The American shot-stopper joined the Londoners this summer from MLS and had played every minute of the Europa League until the last one against PSV. The club announced Turner was omitted as a precaution for a tight groin. Arteta speaking after the 2-0 loss against the Dutch side said:
“Matt [Turner] felt something in his groin last night, so we decided to start with Aaron [Ramsdale].”
He is not expected to make it for Arsenal’s final group game against Zurich and the club hasn’t stated a fix date of his return as of now.
Marquinhos
The Brazilian prodigy was brought in for a mere £3 million from Sau Paulo this summer, and has already showed flashes of his startling talent. Marquinhos has played 4 games in all competitions this season for the Gunners, scoring once and providing an assist as well. However, the teenaged winger too wasn’t selected for the PSV game as he was unwell before the game. Arteta in his pre-match presser before the PSV game told:
“We had Marquinhos, who wasn’t feeling well today and didn’t travel. For the rest, we are OK.”
However, Marquinhos is back in training and though he is a doubt for the Zurich game at home, he should make the bench for the trip to Chelsea.