Arsenal injury update: William Saliba,Leandro Trossard, Gabriel and Kai Havertz latest news and return dates ahead of Brentford clash…

Arsenal injury update: Latest news on William Saliba, Gabriel, and Kai Havertz’s return dates

Four updates on Arsenal injuries ahead of the match against Brentford

The Gunners are still without Leandro Trossard as the relentless fixture schedule continues.

Here’s a rundown of every injured Arsenal player and their expected return date before the clash with Brentford.

Arsenal has faced significant injury challenges this season, but several key players are nearing a return with Brentford next on the schedule at the Emirates Stadium.

The club is grappling with another injury issue concerning a crucial player, as William Saliba was absent from Sunday’s match against Chelsea.

The French defender was anticipated to start in the high-stakes London derby in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, but he was unexpectedly left out of the Gunners’ squad on matchday.

Arsenal promptly announced that Saliba was ruled out due to a knock he picked up during training on Saturday, leaving Mikel Arteta without both of his primary centre-backs, as Gabriel is also unavailable. Summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie were paired together for a spirited 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea.

Arteta will be hoping that neither player is out for an extended period, as the Premier League leaders face a busy schedule following a week filled with significant matches against Tottenham, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea, with upcoming games against Brentford, Aston Villa, Club Brugge, Wolves, Everton, and Crystal Palace before Christmas.

On a positive note, Arsenal received some good news against Chelsea, with star striker Viktor Gyokeres making a return from the bench after a hamstring injury, and Gabriel Jesus being included in the squad for the first time since January. Captain Martin Odegaard also gained more playing time as a substitute following his recent absence.

Here is the most recent injury news for Arsenal and the expected return dates ahead of another all-London encounter with Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

William Saliba

Arsenal supporters were shocked to find Saliba absent when the team lineup was announced at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Arsenal posted on social media: “William Saliba misses out after a knock in training.”

Arteta did not clarify the exact nature of the issue when he spoke to the media before and after the match, but he did mention that the centre-back would receive further evaluation from medical personnel on Monday to assess the situation.

“I believe he has another test tomorrow to evaluate the extent of that feeling, that sensation he experienced, and then we will have more information,” Arteta stated.

In a subsequent update on Tuesday, prior to the Brentford match, Arteta indicated that Saliba had a minor issue but did not dismiss the possibility of him participating on Wednesday following a final training session before the match.

“He had a slight niggle, so I think it will be a matter of days, so let’s see if he can be available tomorrow,” Arteta remarked.

“The ankle issue earlier in the season was quite random and an unfortunate incident that sidelined him for several weeks. He attempted to play at Anfield but was uncomfortable and had to withdraw.

“This situation is also quite strange, but hopefully, it will only take a few days.”

Expected return date: Wednesday, December 3 vs Brentford (H) or Saturday, December 6 vs Aston Villa (A)

Gabriel

Saliba’s unexpected absence against Chelsea coincided with Arsenal already being without his usual defensive partner Gabriel, who is sidelined due to an adductor injury sustained while representing Brazil in a friendly against Senegal at the Emirates last month.

The 27-year-old was anticipated to be out for a duration of “weeks” due to this injury, and he was scheduled for another scan to provide a clearer timeline for his recovery.

After the draw against Chelsea, Arteta confirmed that Gabriel would remain unavailable for some time.

“With Gabi, there are still several weeks ahead,” he stated.

When discussing Gabriel again on Tuesday, Arteta added: “Big Gabi is progressing well, but that will also take weeks.”

Leandro Trossard

Prior to Saliba’s injury, the most recent significant addition to Arsenal’s injury roster was Leandro Trossard, who exited the field with a muscle problem during the first half of last Wednesday’s impressive 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

On Friday, Arteta expressed optimism that the Belgian winger would recover swiftly and be ready to face Chelsea, although he ultimately did not make the squad.

Similar to Saliba, the Arsenal manager mentioned on Tuesday that Trossard’s return was also a “matter of days,” indicating he could potentially return for either the match against Brentford or Aston Villa.

Expected return date: Wednesday, December 3 vs Brentford (H) or Saturday, December 6 vs Aston Villa (A)

Kai Havertz

The only long-term injury absence for Arsenal that remains is Kai Havertz, who has not participated since undergoing knee surgery following an injury sustained against Manchester United during the season’s opening weekend.

After missing the match against Bayern Munich, Arteta was hopeful that Havertz, along with fellow forward Gyokeres, could return in some capacity for the game against his former club Chelsea.

However, he was again absent, and Arteta has now confirmed that Havertz is still several weeks away from returning to play after a setback that was first reported by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann last month.

“A matter of weeks,” Arteta stated on Tuesday. “Let’s see how he progresses in the upcoming weeks. He is making good progress, engaging in activities on the pitch, but I believe he requires more time.

“He was doing everything. He could not advance to the next level, and now it appears we have made progress. We are all eager to have him back.

“He is a player I personally admire greatly for his contributions to the team—his character and personality. It pains me to see him sidelined.

“His playing history is outstanding; he has always been available, and I am looking forward to having him back with the team, playing, as I believe it will provide a significant boost.”

Expected return date: December/January