Arsenal injury update: Martin Zubimendi, Kai Havertz, Gabriel latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Gunners dealt fresh fitness scare ahead of crucial period of season

Arsenal fans were left fearing a fresh injury setback when Martin Zubimendi missed training ahead of Saturday’s trip to Everton.

After that nervy victory at Emirates Stadium kept Arsenal top of the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side now face a crucial few weeks in the title race.

They then face Aston Villa at home and Bournemouth after Christmas away before a huge showdown with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 8.

Martin Zubimendi

Zubimendi missed training on Tuesday morning, when Arsenal got back to work following a few days off after the Wolves win.

The midfielder was substituted after 58 minutes against Wolves and his absence sparked concern among Arsenal supporters.

Martin Zubimendi missed training on Tuesday

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Zubimendi has started 15 of Arsenal’s 16 Premier League matches this season and it has been reported that he was working indoors “as part of a load management strategy”.

Mikel Arteta will provide an update on Zubimendi when he holds his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.

Potential return date: Saturday, December 20 vs Everton (A)

Ben White

Ben White became the latest Arsenal player to sustain when injury as he limped off in the first half against Wolves after pulling up and grabbing his left hamstring when trying to get back and stop a counter attack.

Arteta provided a worrying update on the defender afterwards, saying: “That is bad news, for sure. It looks like a hamstring, so we don’t know the extent of that, but probably tomorrow, or the day after we will know more.

“He hasn’t played a lot of minutes because of the previous knee issue that he had.

Ben White sustained a suspected hamstring injury against Wolves

Getty Images

“Then the moment that he started to get some momentum, he had to play a lot because we didn’t have any other solution.”

It is unfortunate for White as he had just been enjoying an extended run in the Arsenal side, though he has been denied a fifth consecutive start and it remains to be seen if he will be available during the festive period.

Potential return date: Unknown

Gabriel

Arsenal have been without Gabriel since he suffered an adductor injury while playing for Brazil during the final international break a month ago.

Gabriel is recovering from the injury he suffered while playing for Brazil last month

Getty Images

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 at the start of December.

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 against Manchester United 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.”

With Viktor Gyokeres struggling for form, Havertz’s return will increase competiton for places in the Arsenal attack.

Potential return date: Late December/January