Arsenal is currently six points behind Liverpool at the top of the table and has played one more match than Arne Slot’s team.
Arsenal’s Defensive and Midfield Challenges:
- Takehiro Tomiyasu – Out: Tomiyasu is still unavailable due to a knee injury. He has started some on-field work, but Mikel Arteta stated that they will need to monitor his progress. His return date is expected to be February 22, 2025.
- Ben White – Out: White is also recovering from a knee issue and hasn’t yet rejoined the team for training. Arteta mentioned that he is close to returning but needs to pass a few more tests. His expected return date is February 15, 2025.
Arsenal’s Attacking Concerns:
- Bukayo Saka – Out: Saka is expected to remain out until at least late March. Arteta confirmed in January that his recovery timeline remains unchanged, and while he is improving daily, the rehab process will take time. Expected return: April 1, 2025.
- Gabriel Jesus – Out: Jesus is recovering from an ACL injury in his left knee and will be unavailable for a prolonged period. The club confirmed his injury after he was substituted during a match against Manchester United. Expected return: November 22, 2025.
- Gabriel Martinelli – Out: Martinelli sustained a hamstring injury against Newcastle United and will be sidelined for about a month. His expected return date is March 11, 2025.
After Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle, Arteta reflected on the team’s performance: “They were much more efficient in both boxes, and despite creating 24 shots and several chances, we couldn’t score. It’s a painful loss as we really wanted to reach Wembley again, but now we need to digest this and start recovering for the next challenge.”
