Arsenal injury update: Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Gunners injury woes are easing by star man still sidelined

Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were handed another blow last week, but at least their injury woes are easing.

The Gunners were able to welcome Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke back from fitness issues against Manchester City, while Declan Rice again started after missing training earlier in the week.

Madueke only lasted one half of the defeat to City, replaced by the underwhelming Gabriel Martinelli.

Bukayo Saka has missed Arsenal’s last four games

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Bukayo Saka

Uncertainty continues over Bukayo Saka’s fitness, with the Gunners’ talisman now having missed his club’s last four games.

He has not featured since the Carabao Cup final defeat due to an Achilles injury, and has still not returned to full training.

“Bukayo is out,” Mikel Arteta said at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “That is for sure."

Asked whether Saka had returned to training, Arteta added: “He's just starting to do some stuff so let's see that progression, how quickly we can go through it and then wait.

“But at the moment it's not available.”

Potential return date: Saturday, April 25 vs Newcastle (h)

The defender has not played for Arsenal in over a month, having suffered an ankle injury during the 2-0 win over Everton in March.

That issue saw him withdraw from the Netherlands squad, and has now missed Arsenal’s last six games.

When asked on Friday about Martin Odegaard, Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, Arteta said: “Some players are quite close but the turnaround is short.

“We will try [on Saturday] to push everybody and if they are in good position, they will be part of [the game against Man City].

Odegaard returned against City, but Timber and Calafiori remained absent.

Potential return date: Saturday, April 25 vs Newcastle (h)

Riccardo Calafiori

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Riccardo Calafiori

Riccardo Calafiori played the entire 90 minutes against Sporting earlier in April, but has not been seen since.

Despite missing the defeats to Bournemouth and City, the nature of Calafiori’s injury remains unclear.

He was not on show in training last week, and remains a doubt to face Ne

Potential return date: Saturday, April 25 vs Newcastle (h)

Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino is making good progress during rehabiltion, as he targets a return to action for Arsenal before the end of the season.

The Spaniard has been sidelined since undergoing surgery on a rare foot injury sustained during the Gunners’ 3-2 defeat by Manchester United in January, missing 19 matches since.

There had been concern he might not return to the pitch this campaign, but he seems set to make a comeback sooner than expected.

Merino was pictured at Arsenal’s Colney training ground on Friday, no longer sporting the protective boot or crutches he has been burdened with in recent weeks.