Arsenal sweating on fitness updates ahead of critical April fixtures | OneFootball

Arsenal Injury Concerns Mount Ahead of Real Madrid Clash

Eyes on Europe

As Arsenal navigate the final stretch of the Premier League campaign, attention is veering decisively towards Europe. With a seismic Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on the horizon, Mikel Arteta’s side find themselves juggling both ambition and adversity — not least in the form of a mounting injury list.

Their April 8 showdown at the Emirates is circled in red, with the return leg in Madrid eight days later. But before that continental glamour, domestic hurdles await in Fulham (April 1) and Everton (April 6), games that may serve less as Premier League stepping stones and more as fitness tests for returning stars.

Currently 12 points adrift of Liverpool, Arsenal’s title hopes are hanging by a thread. Europe, then, is not just a distraction — it might be salvation.

Bukayo Saka’s Crucial Countdown

No name carries more weight in north London right now than Bukayo Saka. The England winger, who tore his hamstring back in December, has not featured in three months — a gaping absence for a side that thrives on his incisive creativity and relentless energy.

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During the international break, Saka has intensified his rehabilitation. “He’s getting closer, he’s stepping up and making a very good progress I would say,” said Arteta before the break. “So, let’s see when we start to throw him in with the team, how he reacts and how fit he can get quickly.”

Behind the scenes, Saka has begun one-on-one sessions, gradually increasing intensity and incorporating ball work. Arsenal hope the Fulham and Everton fixtures offer enough game rhythm to prepare him for the grandeur of Real Madrid. But much depends on how his body responds in the coming days.

Potential return date: April

New Setbacks and Ongoing Concerns

As one key figure eyes a return, others drift towards the sidelines. Riccardo Calafiori’s name was added to the injury sheet over the international break. The Italian defender suffered a left knee injury against Germany in the Nations League and was promptly sent back to Arsenal for assessment.

“Riccardo Calafiori, who underwent tests late this morning after sustaining an injury to his left knee during yesterday’s match against Germany, has been deemed unavailable for Sunday’s second leg and will return to his club,” confirmed the Italian Football Federation.

The extent of his setback remains unclear, but initial indications suggest a period of absence is inevitable.

Potential return date: Unknown

Return in Sight for Timber

There is better news regarding Jurrien Timber. Having withdrawn from the Netherlands squad due to illness, the defender is now expected to recover in time for the Fulham fixture on April 1.

His availability would be a welcome boost for Arteta’s back line, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Calafiori.

Potential return date: April 1, vs Fulham (H)

Long-Term Absentees Add to the List

Injuries have not been kind to Arsenal this term. Kai Havertz is ruled out until summer 2025 after surgery on a hamstring injury suffered in Dubai. Takehiro Tomiyasu, similarly, has seen his campaign cut short after undergoing knee surgery.

“It has been the toughest period in my career for sure and it carries on a bit more but I won’t give up,” Tomiyasu shared on Instagram.

Gabriel Jesus, too, remains sidelined with a knee issue sustained in January, with no firm timeline for return.

Arsenal Injuries – Quick Summary

As Arsenal edge closer to their most defining fixtures of the season, Arteta’s options may hinge not just on tactical nuance, but on the capricious nature of fitness and recovery. In a campaign delicately poised between glory and disappointment, the treatment table may prove just as decisive as the tactics board.