Arsenal injury update: Gabriel Jesus, Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta’s fitness woes mount before Gunners host Tottenham in the north London derby

Arsenal have seen their injury problems worsen again ahead of a midweek north London derby showdown against Tottenham in the Premier League.

The Gunners saw Gabriel Jesus stretchered off during Sunday’s eventful FA Cup third round defeat by Manchester United, while they were also without Riccardo Calafiori for that heavyweight tie at the Emirates Stadium which the hosts lost 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Arsenal must bounce back against fierce rivals Spurs on Wednesday night, but fans will be concerned over the latest injuries that have added further pressure for the club to strengthen their squad in this month’s transfer market, particularly in attack. Here is all the latest Arsenal injury news and return dates.

Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Jesus had already had a knock when he tried to make a tackle on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes on the edge of Arsenal’s penalty area during the latter stages of the first half on Sunday.

The striker stayed down in obvious pain and clutched his left knee as he received treatment from medical staff and was eventually stretchered off.

Arteta said afterwards that while it was not the same knee that he hurt at the 2022 World Cup, he admitted Jesus’ latest blow was a “big worry”.

The Brazilian was sent home on Sunday rather than to the hospital, but will undergo scans on Monday to determine the extent of the problem.

“Big worry, that’s my feeling. He had to come off on a stretcher with a lot of pain, touching his knee. It’s not looking good,” Arteta said.

“I think it's the other one. The worrying factor is the feeling that he had. When he had to come off and the pain that he was in.”

Potential return date: Unknown, pending scan results

Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal were already dealing with a new injury setback at the weekend after confirming ahead of kick-off that versatile defender Riccardo Calafiori was absent from the squad to face United.

“Riccardo Calafiori is out injured, so is not in the 20-man squad at all,” Arsenal said.

Little more was said on the exact nature of the Italian’s problem, with Fabrizio Romano reporting a muscle complaint - the severity of which is currently unknown.

Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment

Ethan Nwaneri

Arsenal’s plans to fill the void left by Saka’s absence have been greatly impacted by an injury to Ethan Nwaneri, their popular and talented academy graduate who has shown his enormous potential this season.

The teenager gave Arteta’s team the lead against Brighton last weekend, before being taken off at half-time with what turned out to be a muscle injury.

“Unfortunately he has picked up an injury and he is going to be out for a couple of weeks,” Arteta said last week. "It's a muscular injury.

"He didn't really know, to be fair. He said, 'I am feeling something but I don't really know what it is'.

"He has earned the right to step up and play for us and now he has started some games - some big games - and impacted those games in the way he has done, in different positions too.

"I am gutted for him because the injury is going to stop that, but it is another step in that development phase that he is in. I am really happy with the way he is going."

Potential return date: Unknown, possibly early February

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal will be without their attacking talisman until March at the earliest after he was forced off in the first half of their 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on December 21.

Bukayo Saka was feared lost for several weeks, with reports then stating that he could miss up to two months. The England winger had surgery and won’t play now until at least March in a hammer blow to Arsenal’s title hopes.

"He had a procedure," said Arteta. "Everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks.

"I said many weeks, so I think it will be more than two months. I don't know exactly how much longer.

"It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, the mobility of that. Let's see, it's very difficult to say."

Potential return date: March

Ben White

Ben White has not played for Arsenal since the 1-1 Premier League draw at Chelsea on November 10 after undergoing a minor operation to resolve a lingering joint problem in his knee.

The right-back was expected to miss a number of months, with Arteta offering a new update on his fitness earlier in January.

Asked if White could return before the end of January, the Arsenal boss said: “It might be a possibility, but obviously he hasn’t done anything yet with the team.

“The knee looks good, he has reacted really well the first few weeks, everything is going smoothly and now he needs to start to load and that knee needs to start to get through many more things that, up to now he hasn’t been able to do, but hopefully he’s good.

“His work ethic is unbelievable, naturally he’s a really gifted player, so I’m very positive that we’re going to have him quite early - but I don’t know when.”

Potential return date: Late January or early February

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Along with White, Takehiro Tomiyasu is Arsenal’s other long-term absentee in defence, having not featured since the 3-1 win over Southampton in early October.

The Japan international’s return from a knee injury off the bench proved preciously short-lived as he suffered another setback.

Updates on Tomiyasu have been few and far between of late, but Arteta confirmed earlier this month that had he been back out on the grass as he attempts to ramp up his recovery.

“Tomi again has done some stuff on the pitch but now because it’s been a long-term injury we need to see how quickly he can progress and how he reacts,” the Spaniard said.