Arsenal Injury Update: Latest on Leandro Trossard, White, Saka, Rice, and Calafiori’s Return Dates…

Arsenal Injury Update: Latest on White, Saka, Rice, and Trossard’s Return Dates

Arsenal has encountered a significant setback during the international break with two new injuries.

Ben White is expected to be sidelined following a minor knee procedure, while Leandro Trossard had to leave the pitch during Belgium’s match.

This injury to White is particularly challenging for manager Mikel Arteta, who is already without three key defenders and is also concerned about the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice ahead of the upcoming Premier League match against Nottingham Forest.

On a positive note, captain Martin Odegaard has made a successful return, having performed well in his first start back against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and he was not called up by Norway for international duty.

As Arteta prepares to welcome back his international players in the coming days, here’s the latest on Arsenal’s injury situation:

Ben White

The defender has been managing pain in recent weeks, and the international break was deemed an opportune moment to address the issue.

While a specific return date has not been announced, there are indications that he may be out for approximately eight weeks, potentially sidelining him until early 2025.

Estimated return date: 2025

Bukayo Saka

The winger exited the match against Chelsea in the 81st minute, raising concerns after recently returning from previous injuries that kept him out of games against Bournemouth and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Following the match, Arteta expressed worries about Saka’s condition, leading to his withdrawal from the England squad. The timeline for Saka’s recovery remains uncertain as the team awaits updates.

Estimated return date: Unknown

Declan Rice

After missing the Champions League match against Inter Milan due to a broken toe, Declan Rice is now a significant doubt for the upcoming fixture against Chelsea.

In a positive development for Arsenal, he was deemed fit to start at Stamford Bridge but was substituted after 70 minutes for Mikel Merino.

Similarly to Saka, Rice underwent evaluation, leading to the decision for him to withdraw from the England squad, casting doubt on his availability for the match against Nottingham Forest.

Potential return date: Unknown

Leandro Trossard

The midfielder had to leave the pitch while representing Belgium against Israel on Sunday night due to an apparent injury.

The exact nature of the injury was not immediately clear, but it appeared serious enough to prevent Trossard from continuing, resulting in his substitution during the first half.

Potential return date: Unknown

Takehiro Tomiyasu

After a challenging start to the season marred by injuries, Takehiro Tomiyasu made his season debut before the October international break, playing for six minutes as a substitute against Southampton.

Unfortunately, the Japan international sustained another injury during that brief appearance and has been sidelined since.

With White’s absence, the urgency for his return to full fitness has increased, although a specific return date has yet to be established.

“We don’t know that (how long he will be out for),” Arteta stated last month.

“It doesn’t look like, hopefully, a long period but we have to see when he comes back how he reacts to the load and to the impact on the pitch as well.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Riccardo Calafiori

After being forced off during the 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk last month, Calafiori has missed Arsenal’s last five matches across all competitions against Liverpool, Preston, Newcastle, Inter Milan, and Chelsea.

However, the Italian is expected to return following the November international break, as Arteta indicated that his significant summer signing would be “out for a few weeks.”

Fortunately for Arsenal, they have ample options to fill the left-back position, including Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and young talent Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Potential return date: Unknown

Kieran Tierney

The overlooked player at Arsenal has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury during Euro 2024.

It is uncertain what role, if any, Tierney will play for the Gunners prior to the opening of the January transfer window, although he is anticipated to rejoin first-team training shortly.

“I believe he’s quite close,” Arteta recently stated. “He appears to be in excellent condition.

I think he has moved past the phase where he was still experiencing difficulties, so he looks very sharp on the field.

“He hasn’t yet participated in team training, but we hope he can do so in the next week or two.”

Expected return date: Unknown.