Arsenal injury update: Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Arsenal could be without several first-team players against Leicester

Arsenal hope to welcome two players back from injury this week as they take on Paris Saint-Germain and Southampton ahead of the international break.

While David Raya shook off fitness concerns to feature in the narrow win over Leicester, Ben White was a notable absentee with what is understood to be a groin injury, and is now in a race to be fit to face PSG.

Mikel Merino will not feature against the French giants, but has returned to training and will hope to make his debut before the Premier League goes back on pause for two weeks.

Ben White missed the wins over Bolton and Leicester

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Ben White

The defender was a surprise substitute for the draw at Manchester City, the first time he was named on the bench for a Premier League game since May 2022.

Arteta explained at the time that “it was a little bit forced, but we are ok”, and White then came off the bench at half-time, following Leandro Trossard's red card.

White was rested against Bolton, but Arteta was “hopeful” the defender would be fit to face Leicester only to be absent from the squad entirely. He is now a doubt to face Paris Saint-Germain.

Potential return date: Tuesday, October 1 vs PSG

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Martin Odegaard

Arsenal still face a number of weeks without Odegaard after the captain suffered a “significant” ankle injury during the September international break. The midfielder was forced off while playing for Norway after landing awkwardly on his left ankle, and was later pictured on crutches as he returned to London.

Arteta has said of Odegaard’s return: “I think it will be a matter of weeks. How long exactly, I cannot tell you.”

Odegaard has since offered his own update, using the programme notes for the visit of Bolton. He wrote: “I thought I would start with the latest on my injury. It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there, but it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can.

“I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible.

Potential return date: Late October 2024

Mikel Merino is yet to make his debut

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Mikel Merino

Merino is edging closer to his long-awaited Arsenal debut after returning to training. The summer signing picked up a shoulder injury during his first training session for the club, ruling him out for up to two months.

A month on, Merino is hopeful of this week playing his first minutes. Speaking on Friday, one day before the win over Leicester, Arteta said: “Tomorrow is too soon. Next week we’ll see.

“He had partial training today. He’s been working so hard. It’s looking good. It’s about the healing of the bone and how mature that is to expose him to contact basically.

Potential return date: Saturday, October 5 vs Southampton

Oleksandr Zinchenko is out with a calf injury

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Oleksandr Zinchenko

There has been no sign of Zinchenko in an Arsenal shirt since he featured for Ukraine against Czechia earlier this month.

The left-back has missed the last three Arsenal matches with a calf injury, as he was again not named in the squad against former club City.

He now appears unlikely to return before the international break, with Arteta confirming he will be out for “a few weeks”.

Potential return date: Late October 2024

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Takehiro Tomiyasu

Tomiyasu is also nearing a return, having joined his team-mates in training last week after making real progress and was now in a “good place”.

It remains unclear exactly when he will be available for Arsenal again, with Arteta admitting that he is behind the likes of new signing Mikel Merino in the late stages of his recovery.

Potential return date: Unknown

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Kieran Tierney

Tierney has been out since he picked up a serious hamstring injury for Scotland at Euro 2024.

As a result, the left-back was not able to secure a summer move away from Arsenal, and has surprisingly been named in the club’s Champions League squad, despite remaining on the sidelines.

Arteta said last month: "He needs to focus on recovering in the best possible way, it’s been a tough time for him again with the last injury. We have to try to support him and make sure he gets back fit."

Potential return date: Unknown