Arsenal Injury Update: Return Dates for Thomas Partey, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Merino ahead of Manchester united match…

Arsenal Injury Update: Return Dates for Saka, Gabriel, Calafiori, and Merino

The team faced additional injury setbacks during their match against West Ham, adding to an already extensive injury list.

Arsenal concluded November with impressive away victories, scoring five goals against Sporting in Lisbon and matching that tally against West Ham. However, these successes came at a cost.

In addition to injuries to Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey were unable to participate in the London match due to their own injuries.

During the game, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel, and Riccardo Calafiori were all forced to leave the pitch, with captain Martin Odegaard also substituted.

Here’s the latest information on the injuries affecting Arsenal players:

Bukayo Saka

Saka delivered an outstanding performance against West Ham, contributing two assists and scoring from the penalty spot.

However, he raised concerns when he limped off the field with 16 minutes remaining after a collision with Emerson. Fortunately, Mikel Arteta provided reassurance post-match, stating that Saka is “fine.”

Expected return date: Manchester United (h) on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

Gabriel

Gabriel was uncertain to play ahead of the West Ham match but managed to start, scoring the opening goal and winning a penalty in a dynamic first half.

He was substituted at halftime for Jakub Kiwior as a precautionary measure, given the team’s strong lead. Arteta indicated that the decision was influenced by Gabriel’s previous injury sustained in Lisbon.

Expected return date: Manchester United (h) on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

Riccardo Calafiori

Concerns are greater for Riccardo Calafiori, who had to be substituted before the hour mark at the London Stadium, with Oleksandr Zinchenko taking his place.

Mikel Arteta confirmed after the match that the substitution was necessary due to player management rather than tactical adjustments, as the player required careful handling of his workload.

Arteta stated, “He has been managing some minor issues over the past few weeks, and given his history with a serious knee injury, he is progressing well. However, we need to monitor his playing time. Today, we had to do the same.”

Potential return date: Manchester United (h) on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

Thomas Partey

Arsenal faced a significant setback with injuries to two midfielders prior to their victory against West Ham, starting with Thomas Partey.

The midfielder has been a key performer for the Gunners this season, showcasing one of his finest displays in the 5-1 triumph over Sporting Lisbon earlier in the week.

In a press conference on Friday, Mikel Arteta alluded to several injury issues.

He remarked, “A few players were unable to train yesterday, but hopefully, they can today, so we will have to wait and see.”

A club announcement before the match against West Ham indicated, “Mikel Merino (knee issue) and Thomas Partey (muscle issue) will both miss tonight’s game.”

Potential return date: Unknown.

Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino was the second midfielder unavailable between the victories over Sporting and West Ham.

Merino replaced Partey in Lisbon and contributed to Arsenal’s fifth goal, but he was unable to participate in the match in east London.

Similar to Partey, the severity of Merino’s injury is still unclear. After the game, Mikel Arteta commented on both Merino and Partey, stating, “The match came too soon for them, and they couldn’t be included in the squad.

We had to make adjustments, and while we lost key players again yesterday, the rest of the team is not significantly affected.”

Ben White

The defender underwent surgery last month to address a knee issue, and Mikel Arteta recently confirmed that the operation was successful, although it will keep White sidelined for several months.

“It’s still early days,” he noted in late November. “The surgery went very well, and there have been no adverse reactions since.”

He is making progress each day, but the initial four to six weeks require careful management to avoid putting any strain on his knee. After this period, we will assess his recovery speed and the knee’s response.

Projected return date: Early 2025

Takehiro Tomiyasu

The defender has been sidelined for the first part of the season due to a knee injury sustained during the summer.

He made a brief appearance off the bench against Southampton in early October but unfortunately experienced another setback that has kept him out of action since then.

Currently, there is no definitive timeline for the Japan defender’s return.

Arteta mentioned prior to the victory over Forest that Tomiyasu would be changing his surroundings to support his recovery process.

“Tomiyasu will be unavailable for a while,” Arteta stated.

“He will be away for a few weeks to continue his training and to alter his environment, as it has been quite challenging for him, as you can imagine.

“He is someone who is incredibly dedicated and wants to work tirelessly to improve, and he feels quite disheartened when he is not fit.”

“It’s truly unfortunate. We aim to provide him with the best possible chance to facilitate his return as swiftly as we can, but patience is essential.”

Projected return date: Early 2025.