Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori injury latest as star among trio missing ahead of Man United clash | OneFootball

Italian has been sidelined since December

Arsenal return to the Emirates after four successive away games in all competitions as they bid to maintain their seven-point gap at the top of the Premier League.

But as injuries continue to impact the squad, the delayed return of Calafiori and Havertz could pose an issue for the Gunners.

Ahead of Sunday’s fixture, there were doubts over both of Arsenal’s defensive duo, Calafiori and Piero Hincapie, who had been out since the start of 2026.

Calafiori’s absence from the team walk on Sunday suggests he will not be returning to the squad this time out.

Also missing from the team walk was Havertz, who finally made his return to the team sheet at the turn of the year after a long stint away with a knee injury, but Arteta assured on Friday that Havertz is “very close” to full fitness.

He said: “Obviously, he has been out for a long time, almost a year, for different reasons, and now we have to be very smart in the manner that we manage that load, the minutes.

“I am sure in the next few weeks he is going to play in minutes. I cannot tell you which competition because that will depend as well on the game context, and it is a context that is positive to throw him in or not, with his qualities.

“It is great that we have him. We can use him in different positions. We will see him in different positions, and we are really happy to have him.”

In another shock, Norgaard was also not spotted on the team walk, just days after reports that the Dane was a key transfer target for Ajax, who continue to seek midfield reinforcements after seeing a loan offer for Manuel Ugarte rejected by Manchester United.

Manchester United head to the Emirates off the back of a convincing victory over second-place Manchester City in the derby in Michael Carrick’s first game in charge as interim head coach.