Arsenal injury update: William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri latest news and return dates…

Arsenal Injury Update: Latest on William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori, and Ethan Nwaneri’s Return Dates

The Gunners continue to face challenges as they navigate a difficult season.

Arsenal’s struggles persisted over the weekend, despite a brief resurgence in hopes for a Premier League title following their victory against Tottenham.

Unfortunately, Mikel Arteta’s team encountered another hurdle on Saturday.

After leading 2-0, Arsenal allowed Aston Villa to equalize, resulting in a 2-2 draw and leaving them six points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.

Additionally, Liverpool has a game in hand, complicating Arsenal’s situation further.

With their exit from the FA Cup and a daunting task ahead to overturn a two-goal deficit against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final, the season is proving challenging for Arteta’s squad.

While the absence of a traditional centre-forward has been a topic of discussion, injuries to key players are also significantly impacting the team’s performance.

Here’s the latest on Arsenal’s injury situation:

William Saliba

Defender William Saliba was unable to participate in the match against Villa after experiencing hamstring discomfort towards the end of the Spurs game.

Arteta expressed considerable concern regarding Saliba’s condition, with reports from France suggesting he may be out for approximately two weeks.

Expected return: Early February

Riccardo Calafiori

Riccardo Calafiori also missed the Villa match, having been absent for the encounters with Manchester United and Tottenham. Arteta indicated last week that the Italian defender is nearing a return.

Expected return: January/February 2025

Ethan Nwaneri

Promising young talent Ethan Nwaneri has not played since scoring in the draw against Brighton at the beginning of January, but he has recently resumed training.

Expected return: Unknown

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Takehiro Tomiyasu has seen limited action this season, with only six minutes played due to a knee injury, and his return timeline remains uncertain.

Expected return: Unknown

Ben White

Ben White had surgery for a knee issue in November, and Arteta has suggested that he might be back by late January.

“The knee is looking good, and he has responded very well during the initial weeks. Everything is progressing smoothly, and now he needs to start increasing the load on the knee, which has not yet been subjected to more demanding activities. However, I remain hopeful for his recovery,” stated the Arsenal manager.

“His work ethic is exceptional, and he is naturally a talented player, so I am optimistic that we will see him back on the pitch relatively soon, although I cannot specify an exact date.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka underwent surgery for a hamstring injury sustained during the match against Crystal Palace in December. Consequently, Saka’s return may be delayed until March.

Potential return date: Unknown, March at the earliest

Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Jesus also had surgery for an ACL injury incurred while playing against Manchester United in the FA Cup.

It appears unlikely that the Brazilian will return to play this season.

Potential return date: Summer 2025