Arsenal injury update: Saka, Odegaard and Jesus latest return dates (2024)

Bukayo Saka has joined Arsenal's growing injury list once again ahead of the visit of Burnley this weekend.

Though Mikel Arteta will have been relieved to see his side return to winning ways in the Champions League against Sevilla on Wednesday night, he must surely be growing concerned over the mounting number of injuries to key players in his squad.

Captain Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah have also been on the sidelines of late, along with main striker Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey, among others.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe are also battling injury issues, while Jurrien Timber remains a long-term absentee.

Speaking after the game Arteta did downplay those renewed fears, saying on Saka: "It was just a kick and I was told by the physios on the radio that he wasn’t happy to continue so he will have some discomfort but hopefully, I want to assume that he will be ok."

Potential return date: Unknown pending further assessment

Arsenal had hoped to be able to call upon their captain for the defeats to both West Ham and Newcastle, but his ongoing knock kept him on the sidelines.

Odegaard was available to be called upon for the Carabao Cup tie but then failed a fitness test for the trip to St James' Park, also later sitting out against Sevilla.

Speaking after the Champions League win, Arteta said of his skipper and Eddie Nketiah: "They are racing against the clock to be fit and they are trying their best and they tried to be here today with us.

"It wasn’t possible and now we have another 48 hours before we play Burnley. We will try again and we will see because we need players at the moment."

Potential return date: November 11 vs Burnley

Nketiah picked up an ankle issue in the controversial loss at Newcastle last weekend and was also sidelined against Sevilla following a late fitness test.

Like Odegaard, he could be in contention to play some part against Burnley at the weekend.

Potential return date: November 11 vs Burnley

Like Saka, Tomiyasu also went off with a knock against Sevilla but Arteta doesn't appear to believe that his problem is serious either.

"He had some discomfort in the first half and we didn’t want to take any risks," the Spaniard said.

"He’s played a lot of minutes and obviously having Alex [Oleksandr Zinchenko] on the bench ready to come in, I think it was the right decision."

Potential return date: Unknown pending further assessment

Smith Rowe was given a rare start against Sheffield United last month thanks to Odegaard's lingering injury, but has since picked up a knee issue.

It's an awful blow for the young No10, who has endured a string of fitness woes over recent seasons and is now expected to be out for "weeks."

Arteta said: “We have an issue with him. He felt something in his knee and started to feel some pain after the game - we are assessing him, but [it’s] a big worry with him. He's going to be out for weeks."

Potential return date: December 2023

Gabriel Jesus

Nketiah led the line against Sheffield United due to the absence of Jesus, who was forced off late on with a hamstring injury after a brilliant display in the first game against Sevilla.

The Brazilian was sent for a scan that revealed a muscle problem that is keeping him out.

Arteta has been unwilling to put an exact time frame on his recovery with Jesus no stranger to both a setback and a fast return, and he is "pushing everybody" to be fit as soon as possible.

He was recently named in the Brazil squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina, setting the scene for a possible club vs country row.

Potential return date: December 2023

Thomas Partey

Partey's late 15-minute cameo off the bench in the 1-0 win over title rivals Manchester City early last month was his first Arsenal appearance since a groin issue sustained back in August.

He started twice for Ghana over the October international break but has not been seen since due to his own muscle issue suffered in training.

Like Jesus, Partey is now expected to miss a few more weeks of action, with an exact timeline for his latest comeback uncertain.

"It’s a big concern,” Arteta said. “Because when Thomas is fit and available and has been part of the team, we’ve seen what the results and the impact he has had on the team.

“This season we have more protection especially for that reason because we know in the last two seasons what has happened and the impact it has had on the team, so we had to address that.

“We are gutted for him but he needs to lift himself up again with our support and go again because he is a player that is critical for us.”

Potential return date: December 2023

Jurrien Timber

The summer signing from Ajax suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest back in August and underwent surgery.

Timber is continuing his rehabilitation but there is no time frame for his return at present and he likely faces a battle to play again at all this season.

Potential return date: Summer 2024

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