Mikel Arteta provides an injury update for Arsenal regarding Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori following the match against Manchester City…

Mikel Arteta has given an injury report on Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori for Arsenal after their recent match with Manchester City.

In the aftermath of the match against Manchester City, Mikel Arteta has updated the status of injuries concerning Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.

In the latest news regarding Arsenal’s injury situation, Mikel Arteta addressed Bukayo Saka’s substitution and offered updates on Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori following the 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

The injury report includes updates on Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, and Mikel Merino, along with anticipated return dates.

Arsenal will be without their captain for an extended duration.

Despite facing a significant injury list, Arsenal continues to secure positive results.

The Gunners were on the verge of a notable victory with ten players against Manchester City but conceded a late equalizer, resulting in a draw.

Arteta’s squad was already missing key players such as Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, and further adjustments were necessary during the match.

Both Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber sustained injuries in the second half and were substituted, with Myles Lewis-Skelly taking over at left-back.

Martin Odegaard

Odegaard is expected to be sidelined for an extended period due to a “significant” ankle injury sustained while playing for Norway against Austria, where he landed awkwardly. He was later seen on crutches upon his return to London.

Arsenal has not yet provided a specific timeline for his recovery, pending further scans, but Arteta expressed hope that Odegaard’s absence would not extend for months.

“The scans revealed some damage, particularly to one of the ligaments in the ankle,” Arteta stated. “It’s a considerable issue, so we will be without him for a while.”

Estimated return date: November 2024

Riccardo Calafiori

Calafiori has faced injury challenges since joining the club, having missed the north London derby due to an unfortunate collision with Ousmane Dembele during the international break.

The Italian player has made his return and had his full debut for Arsenal against City, where he scored a remarkable equalizer, showcasing his skills at left-back.

Calafiori experienced a setback in the second half and had to be substituted, but Arteta indicated that this was likely due to the defender not being fully match fit yet.

“They haven’t played 90 minutes in this context, especially with the demands of the past week,” he remarked regarding Calafiori and Timber.

“Everyone is eager to support the team. We will find ways to adapt.”

Expected return date: Wednesday, September 25, against Bolton.

Mikel Merino

Merino is in the process of recovering from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him from making his Arsenal debut.

He sustained the injury during his first training session with the club, but recent reports indicate that Merino has been seen without a sling, signaling progress towards regaining his fitness.

At the time, it was reported that the midfielder would be out for two months, suggesting his debut will occur at least after the next international break.

Expected return date: Late October 2024.

Jurrien Timber

Timber has had a hectic week, starting all three matches since the international break.

The Dutch player was moved to right-back for the match against City and completed the full 90 minutes, but he had to be substituted in stoppage time for Lewis-Skelly.

After the match, Timber provided an optimistic update on his fitness.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played so many games, especially within a week, so that’s really encouraging,” he stated.

Potential return date: Wednesday, September 25, against Bolton

Oleksandr Zinchenko

Zinchenko has not appeared in an Arsenal kit since his match for Ukraine against Czechia earlier this month. The left-back has been sidelined for the last three matches due to a calf injury and was again absent from the squad for the game against his former team, Manchester City. The club has not issued any official updates regarding his condition.

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Tomiyasu has yet to make an appearance for Arsenal this season, having sustained a knee injury during the summer.

The Japanese defender has not resumed training, and a recent ambiguous statement from Arteta indicates that his return is not expected soon. “At the moment, it’s difficult to say,” the Arsenal manager commented.

“The recovery process for the initial phase of that injury is progressing slowly. It’s probably best for the medical team to provide further details on that.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Kieran Tierney

Tierney has been unavailable since suffering a significant hamstring injury while playing for Scotland at Euro 2024. Consequently, he was unable to secure a transfer away from Arsenal during the summer.

Surprisingly, he has been included in the club’s Champions League squad, despite still being injured.

Arteta remarked last month: “He needs to concentrate on recovering as effectively as possible; it has been a challenging period for him with this latest injury. We must support him and ensure he returns to full fitness.”

Potential return date: Unknown.