Arsenal injury update: Saliba, Martinelli and Odegaard latest with return dates revealed | OneFootball

Arsenal injury update as Arteta manages growing list of fitness concerns

Injury management defines Arsenal’s title ambitions

For all the promise Arsenal have shown this season, their progress has come with a familiar undertone of fragility. The 1-0 win against Crystal Palace extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points, a significant psychological boost in a title race defined by small margins. Yet the aftermath of that victory painted a more complex picture, one in which Mikel Arteta must once again manage a growing list of fitness problems.

Photo: IMAGO

The Gunners’ win over Palace, courtesy of an Eberechi Eze own goal, should have been straightforward. Instead, it left Arsenal with four fresh injury concerns to key first-team players, all while preparing for another demanding fixture in the Carabao Cup against Brighton.

Arteta’s balancing act between sustaining momentum and maintaining player health has become the season’s quiet subplot. Here is the full Arsenal injury update as the club seeks to navigate a challenging run of games with a stretched squad.

William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli among new injury doubts

The most significant worry from the weekend surrounded William Saliba, who was withdrawn at half-time against Palace despite no visible discomfort. Arteta later confirmed the change was precautionary but concerning enough to sideline the defender for the upcoming Carabao Cup tie.

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“Willy obviously had to be out after the first half… there are two things related to his substitution,” Arteta explained. “We are assessing him.”

That short statement underlined both the uncertainty and the importance of Saliba’s condition. The Frenchman remains one of Arsenal’s most influential figures in defence, and his absence last season coincided with a dramatic dip in form. Arteta can ill afford a repeat.

Equally concerning was Gabriel Martinelli, who replaced Bukayo Saka late in the game but was seen hobbling down the tunnel at full-time. The winger has become central to Arsenal’s attacking rhythm, his pace and directness often the spark in tight contests.

When asked about his condition, Arteta offered a cautious response. “Yeah, I think so. We have to check that one. He was a bit uncomfortable. He said he felt something. We don’t know whether it’s a muscular issue or not. Tomorrow we’ll have more news.”

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Those further checks confirmed the Brazilian would miss the Brighton game, with no timeline yet for his return. “It looks as well that he is going to be out,” Arteta added. “We have to, again, do some more tests and see the extent of the injury.”

Rice and Calafiori eased back as Carabao Cup approaches

In better news, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, both substituted during the win over Palace, appear to have avoided serious injury. Rice took a knock in the first half and was withdrawn as a precaution, prompting brief panic among supporters.

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“Declan as well was struggling from the first half with a knock that he took… I don’t really know because it was a knock. But I don’t know if it was the calf or the Achilles or what exactly it was,” said Arteta.

Rice’s ability to celebrate on the pitch post-match, followed by confirmation of his availability for Brighton, has eased immediate fears. Similarly, Calafiori, who also limped off, has been passed fit. Both will likely feature selectively as Arteta manages rotation through a congested schedule.

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Odegaard’s patient progress and Havertz’s timeline

Captain Martin Odegaard has endured a stop-start season disrupted by recurring injuries. Having recovered from a shoulder problem, the Norwegian’s campaign was again interrupted by a medial collateral ligament issue suffered against West Ham.

Odegaard has been open about the unpredictability of his recovery, explaining: “It’s tricky to set a return date with this type of injury because, especially it being my left leg, a lot depends on how it goes when I start getting back on the pitch. Sometimes it can be quite sore when you start passing the ball and shooting and all these things with that leg, so it’s really hard to say a date.”

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Arsenal’s staff remain optimistic that Odegaard will return before the end of November, possibly in time for the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. His leadership and control in midfield remain irreplaceable, particularly in close matches where Arsenal’s composure is tested.

Meanwhile, Kai Havertz continues his recovery from knee surgery. The German playmaker has not featured since the opening-day victory over Manchester United and is projected to return in late November. “Many, many weeks,” Arteta said when asked to define the layoff, suggesting a cautious approach as the club looks to prevent further setbacks.

Long-term absentees: Jesus and Madueke continue rehabilitation

Among the longer-term injuries, Gabriel Jesus’s situation is the most closely followed. The Brazilian has faced repeated knee problems since joining the club and underwent another operation earlier this year. His rehabilitation has been encouraging, with training-ground footage showing him running and participating in light ball work.

“Yeah, I’m feeling great, man. My knee’s responding very well,” Jesus said. “So now I’m looking forward to being around the team again soon. It’s been too long.”

Yet Jesus also warned of the danger of rushing back too quickly. “When you can see the end, it’s important you don’t push too hard. Keep my feet on the floor, and then as soon as the time comes, I will be ready.” His return remains pencilled in for late 2025, though progress has been described as “encouraging”.

Noni Madueke, a summer signing from Chelsea, is also sidelined following a knee problem sustained in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Arteta confirmed the winger will miss several weeks but avoided placing a fixed date on his comeback. “It looks like he is going to be out for a few weeks. We don’t really know yet. Probably we are going to have to scan him next week again.”

Madueke’s explosive form before the setback made him a crucial attacking option. His absence has forced greater reliance on Saka and Trossard, increasing Arsenal’s vulnerability to further fatigue in wide areas.

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Arteta’s delicate balance

What unites these setbacks is not simply their frequency but their timing. Arsenal’s fixture list grows more intense by the week, with domestic and European ambitions running parallel. Arteta’s challenge is not only medical but strategic, to balance player welfare with the relentless demands of competition.

The manager has shown flexibility in his approach, using squad depth intelligently while trusting youth prospects like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to step into senior roles when required. It is a method born out of necessity but rooted in belief, a reflection of Arteta’s broader philosophy of developing resilience as much as skill.

For supporters, the anxiety around each update has become familiar. Injuries have punctuated every major phase of Arsenal’s recent progress. Yet this version of the team, battle-tested and increasingly mature, has so far refused to be derailed.

Still, the coming weeks will demand careful judgement. A stretched squad risks losing rhythm just as the title picture begins to take shape. Arteta’s success will depend not only on tactical brilliance but on how well he navigates the fragile line between intensity and overload.