Arsenal injury update: Declan Rice, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Gunners dealing with selection crisis ahead of crunch period in title battle

That result blew the title race wide open and, with Manchester City now just two points behind them, Arsenal face a crunch run of games.

They play rock-bottom Wolves at home on Saturday evening before a trip to Everton on December 20 and then have their rearranged Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Crystal Palace on December 23.

After Christmas, Arsenal face home games against Brighton and Aston Villa knowing that this period could be crucial to their title hopes. Here is the latest Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of the weekend.

Declan Rice

Rice sparked concern among Arsenal fans when he missed an open training session at London Colney on Tuesday ahead of the Club Brugge game.

Mikel Arteta confirmed the midfielder, who had been forced off with a calf issue against Brentford on December 3, had not suffered an injury but instead been struggling with illness.

Declan Rice has been struggling with illness

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“Declan was ill,” said Arteta on Tuesday. “He was quite sick after the [Villa] game, and he hasn’t travelled with us.

“He will have a couple of days to rest and to get his body right. But today, already, he was very keen to be able to play. But unfortunately, he’s not.”

After a rest in midweek, Rice will be pushing to return against Wolves, though Arteta was giving little away on the England star’s status on Friday.

“Let’s see how he is today,” the Spaniard said. “He was ill, that’s an illness, normally in a few days it gets resolved, but we have to wait and see.”

Potential return date: Saturday December 13, vs Wolves (H)

Jurrien Timber

Timber was left out of the squad against Club Brugge as he became the latest Arsenal defender to be struck down with injury.

Arteta revealed that Timber and Riccardo Calafiori had both suffered “bad kicks” against Aston Villa last weekend.

Jurrien Timber missed the Club Brugge game

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Calafiori - who is suspended against Wolves - was on the bench in Belgium but Arteta said it was “too early” for Timber.

“They both had issues at the weekend, two really bad kicks,” said Arteta. “And for Jurrien, it was too early.”

Providing another update on Timber ahead of the visit of Wolves, Arteta said: “Again, depends how he feels today.

Potential return date: Saturday December 13, vs Wolves (H)

William Saliba

Saliba has been out since suffering an initially unspecified injury in training just before the 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the end of November.

Arteta said twice last week that Saliba was only a matter of “days” away from a return but he missed the Villa defeat and was not ready to face Club Brugge, either.

William Saliba and Gabriel have been missing for Arsenal in recent weeks

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“We have to wait and see,” Arteta said on Saliba on Friday, confirming the problem stemmed from the ankle issue he picked up against Liverpool in August. “Yesterday we didn’t train, so we have an extra day between this afternoon, let’s see if he can be available or not.

“It remains the same. If you asked me for the Everton game, I think he will be fit; for tomorrow, I don’t know.”

Potential return date: Saturday December 13, vs Wolves (H) or Saturday December 20, vs Everton (A)

Leandro Trossard

Trossard missed the Club Brugge game with a calf injury that has been troubling him in recent weeks.

He initially sustained the issue against Bayern Munich last month and then missed games against Chelsea and Brentford.

Trossard returned as a substitute at Aston Villa when he came on at half-time and then quickly scored, but was then substituted himself late on.

Leandro Trossard has been dealing with a calf problem

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Arteta said ahead of the Club Brugge game: “Leo again picked up another knock in an area where he had the issue, and I don't expect that it's going to be long, but unfortunately, he cannot be here.”

The manager provided a familiar update on Trossard on Friday, saying: “Again, another one that is a matter of days. It sounds boring, but it’s the reality, so we don’t know.”

Potential return date: Saturday December 13, vs Wolves (H) or Saturday December 20, vs Everton (A)

Gabriel

Arsenal have been without Gabriel since he suffered an adductor injury while playing for Brazil a month ago.

There were initial fears that he could be out until January and Arteta rued the blow of losing “the leader of our backline”.

Arteta’s latest update on Gabriel came at the start of the month, when he said: “Big Gabi is doing very well, but that's weeks as well.”

Potential return date: Late December/January

Cristhian Mosquera

Mosquera has been ruled out until the New Year with what Arteta described as a “complicated” ankle injury.

No exact timeframe has been placed on his return but it has been reported that Arsenal fear he could miss six to eight weeks.

“He's going to be out for weeks unfortunately, it's much more than what we expected,” Arteta said. “But the player was feeling it, so he's going to be out for weeks.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Max Dowman

Dowman faces two months out after sustaining ankle ligament damage.

The 15-year-old suffered the injury during a behind-closed-doors Under-21 friendly against Manchester United at St George’s Park last weekend.

Max Dowman has suffered an ankle injury

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Dowman is not expected to require surgery but Arsenal have confirmed he has been taken out of their Champions League squad and replaced with Gabriel Jesus.

Arteta said: “With Max, unfortunately, he picked up an injury last weekend, and he had to come off, so we did some scans and he is going to be out for weeks.”

Potential return date: February

Kai Havertz

Havertz is still not ready to return after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury sustained on the opening weekend of the season that required surgery.

In his latest update on Havertz at the start of the month, Arteta said: “Matter of weeks. Let’s see how it evolves in the next few weeks.”