Arsenal injury updates after October international break

  • Arsenal have a host of injury concerns in defence and the forward line
  • Captain Martin Odegaard has missed the last month for club and country
  • Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sustained issues on international duty
Gabriel Martinelli is a new injury doubt
Gabriel Martinelli is a new injury doubt / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit

Arsenal were likely one of the sides most frustrated by the arrival of the October international break.

The Gunners have won their last four matches in all competitions and remain unbeaten at the start of the new campaign, with Mikel Arteta's men showing Premier League title promise in the opening weeks after some hard-fought results.

However, injuries can derail any campaign and the north London outfit return from the October break with a number of fitness concerns. With plenty of football to come between now and the November international break, Arteta will be praying for good news from his medical staff.

Here is the latest Arsenal injury news.


Ben White

Ben White - Soccer Player
Ben White is battling injury / Visionhaus/GettyImages
  • Injury: Groin
  • Potential return date: Bournemouth (A) - 19/10/24

Arsenal's first-choice right-back has been missing since the dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester City on 22 September and absent for four straight victories with a groin injury. Ben White was close to returning against Southampton before the international break but wasn't deemed fit enough to feature.

However, after a few weeks of rest, White should be fit and firing for the return of club football, with Arsenal travelling to Bournemouth in Saturday's late Premier League kick-off.


Kieran Tierney

Kieran Tierney
Kieran Tierney was injured at Euro 2024 / Stu Forster/GettyImages
  • Injury: Hamstring
  • Potential return date: Unknown

The eternally injured Kieran Tierney suffered a fresh setback during Euro 2024 with Scotland. In the Tartan Army's second group stage game against Switzerland, the left-back hurt his hamstring and has been missing ever since.

Unlikely to earn regular minutes for Arsenal this season regardless of injury, Tierney's potential return remains unknown.


Jurrien Timber

Jurrien Timber
Jurrien Timber missed 2023/24 with an ACL tear / Julian Finney/GettyImages
  • Injury: Muscle
  • Potential return date: Bournemouth (A) - 19/10/24

Jurrien Timber was withdrawn due to muscle tightness in the 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and was absent for the following 3-1 victory over Southampton. Given his injury history in north London, Arteta won't take any chances with the former Ajax man.

After missing the international period with the Netherlands, Timber should be available for the journey to the Vitality Stadium this weekend.


Takehiro Tomiyasu

Takehiro Tomiyasu
Takehiro Tomiyasu only returned from injury against Southampton / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/GettyImages
  • Injury: Knee
  • Potential return date: Unknown

While yet to be confirmed by Arsenal, it has been widely reported Takehiro Tomiyasu has suffered a recurrence of the knee injury that has kept him out for the majority of the season.

The defender only made his return against Southampton before the October break, where it's believed he suffered a fresh setback that could take a month to heal. Arteta should provide some clarity on the situation before the Bournemouth game.


Oleksandr Zinchenko

Oleksandr Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko remains an injury doubt / Visionhaus/GettyImages
  • Injury: Calf
  • Potential return date: Bournemouth (A) - 19/10/24

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been missing since the September international break and has been limited to just one start for Arsenal this season. A calf injury has kept him sidelined in recent weeks but he's close to returning.

Given he was several weeks away from fitness in late September according to Arteta, the Ukrainian should be available against Bournemouth this weekend.


Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard is still missing / Visionhaus/GettyImages
  • Injury: Ankle
  • Potential return date: Unknown

Like team-mate Zinchenko, Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard has been missing since the September international break after sustaining an ankle injury on duty with Norway in the UEFA Nations League.

Arteta has been reluctant to put a timeline on his comeback and it remains unclear exactly when he will return, with the Spaniard having labelled Odegaard's injury as "significant".


Thomas Partey

Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey is a doubt / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
  • Injury: Illness
  • Potential return date: Bournemouth (A) - 19/10/24

Thomas Partey has had his fair share of injury issues over the course of his Arsenal career, with fans naturally concerned to see the midfielder withdraw from the Ghana squad over the international break.

However, reports have suggested that Partey has been suffering with illness rather than injury and should be available for the Bournemouth clash.


Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka suffered an injury with England / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages
  • Injury: Hamstring
  • Potential return date: Bournemouth (A) - 19/10/24

Arsenal fans will have been wincing as Bukayo Saka limped off the pitch during England's 2-1 defeat to Greece over the October break. The winger lasted 52 minutes before being withdrawn with a hamstring injury and missed the subsequent victory over Finland.

Lee Carsley confirmed the injury isn't too serious, stating: "Bukayo would have been close [to facing Finland] but it would have been unfair to take a risk with him, he's a positive person and I expect him to be fine."

Arsenal will have to assess their star forward but Saka's remarkable durability suggests he won't be absent for a significant period even if he is to spend some time on the treatment table.


Gabriel Martinelli

FBL-WC-2026-SAMERICA-QUALIFIERS-CHI-BRA
Gabriel Martinelli sustained an injury with Brazil / JAVIER TORRES/GettyImages
  • Injury: Muscle
  • Potential return date: Bournemouth (A) - 19/10/24

Gabriel Martinelli was another casualty of the international break, sustaining a muscle injury with Brazil in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Chile. The winger then missed the following clash with Peru.

A national team statement read: "Gabriel Martinelli complained of pain in his right calf and underwent an MRI on Sunday night which showed a small area of ​​muscle edema in the area."

It remains to be seen if he spends any time on the sidelines but he's certainly a doubt for the clash with the Cherries.


Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz missed the international break / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/GettyImages
  • Injury: Knee
  • Potential return date: Bournemouth (A) - 19/10/24

Kai Havertz has made an exceptional start to the new season but has suffered a minor injury setback. The forward was called up the Germany squad for the October break but had to withdraw due to a knee injury.

It seems unlikely that Havertz will miss this weekend's clash with Bournemouth but Arteta will provide an update on the German's fitness in his pre-match press conference.


READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP

feed