Arsenal sweating on return dates for three stars with semi-final injury concerns | OneFootball

Arsenal Injury Updates Cast Shadow Ahead of Chelsea Showdown

Arsenal’s emphatic 4 to 0 win at Elland Road should have been a moment of release. After a testing spell in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side reasserted control, rhythm and belief. Yet even as goals flowed and confidence returned, concern crept in from the touchline. Bukayo Saka, named in the starting lineup, never made it to kick-off.

In a season where Arsenal are contesting honours on multiple fronts, the fitness of their most influential attacker is central. With Chelsea arriving at the Emirates for the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, a tie Arsenal lead 3 to 2, Arteta now faces uncertainty at precisely the wrong moment.

Saka Setback Raises Familiar Fears

Saka’s absence was sudden and unsettling. Having been rested for the midweek Champions League win over Kairat, he was expected to start against Leeds. Instead, he picked up a problem during the warm-up and headed straight down the tunnel alongside a physio. Noni Madueke was promoted at short notice and seized his opportunity impressively, but the broader implications remain.

Initial reports suggested an issue with Saka’s left hip, though Arteta was deliberately guarded afterwards. “So in the warm-up he had a little niggle,” he said. “He wasn’t comfortable to start the game so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in and he was ready, because you cannot do that in two minutes.

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“The way he prepares, the way he waited for an opportunity, I think it paid off today. He really impacted the team.”

Pressed on severity, Arteta added simply, “We don’t know yet.”

That uncertainty will dominate the build-up to Tuesday night. Saka’s recent history with hamstring issues only heightens concern and Arsenal will move carefully before deciding whether he can face Chelsea.

Potential return date, unknown.

Merino Foot Issue Adds to Midfield Questions

Saka was not the only notable absence at Elland Road. Mikel Merino was also missing, though his situation had not been widely known beforehand. Arteta confirmed prior to kick-off that the Spaniard is dealing with a foot injury that requires further assessment.

“He’s got an issue in his foot,” Arteta explained. “It’s a bone that’s giving him some pain, and we have some exams. We need some more specialists to look at it and to see how long he will be out.”

Merino had already missed the Champions League fixture through suspension and did not train ahead of that match, a detail that now carries greater significance. His availability for the Chelsea tie appears doubtful and Arsenal will await scan results before setting any timeline.

Potential return date, unknown.

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Dowman Recovery Managed with Care

Before Saka’s warm-up issue emerged, Arsenal’s only confirmed injury absentee was Max Dowman. The teenage midfielder, widely regarded as one of the club’s brightest prospects, has been sidelined since suffering ankle ligament damage in an Under 21s friendly against Manchester United at St George’s Park.

Arteta has been careful to stress patience. “It will be a little bit more than Cristhian Mosquera’s,” he said. “Obviously, he’s growing, and we need to be very careful and a little bit more protective.

“He has a different schedule as well because he needs to go to school, so we need to respect a lot of things throughout that process. But I think he’s quite close.”

Dowman is now back on the pitch and progressing well, though Arsenal will continue to prioritise long term development over haste.

Potential return date, February.

Selection Balance at a Critical Juncture

There had been reasons for optimism on the fitness front. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both returned against Leeds, Kai Havertz completed an hour, and Riccardo Calafiori logged his first league minutes since December. Arsenal appeared to be emerging from a demanding period with renewed depth.

Saka’s injury changes that picture. With Chelsea, Sunderland, Brentford, Tottenham and an FA Cup tie against Wigan all compressed into a busy month, Arteta’s ability to manage minutes and risk will define Arsenal’s momentum. The coming days will reveal whether this setback is a brief interruption or a more serious test of Arsenal’s resilience.