When will Arsenal’s injured stars return? | OneFootball

Arsenal headed into the 2024/25 Premier League season as the favourites to win the title. After finishing as runners-up to Manchester City in each of the last two campaigns, many thought that their time had surely come. Unfortunately for them, Liverpool had other ideas.

Arne Slot’s side have been in scintillating form throughout the first half of the season, beating all-comers and amassing a seven-point lead at the top of the table.

The Gunners find themselves in second place but websites allowing one to bet on sports in Canada now make Liverpool a huge -450 favourite for the title, and if Arsenal are to reel them in throughout the latter half of the season, they will have to be at their very best.

Unfortunately for them, they’re currently a million miles away from full strength. So, when are the injured players set to return?

Bukayo Saka

Perhaps the most notable absence is that of Bukayo Saka. Ever since breaking into the Gunners’ first team some five years ago, the versatile winger has become an integral part of Arteta’s revolution, twice winning the club’s Player of the Season award and becoming a key part of the national team set up as well. Offering bucket loads of creativity, energy, and, most importantly, goals in crucial moments, the 23-year-old is arguably the best player currently in the ranks at the Emirates.

Unfortunately for both the player and the club, he was downed with a hamstring injury in December’s 5-1 victory away at Crystal Palace. His absence couldn’t have come at a worse time, with Arsenal already trailing Liverpool in the title race. In his absence, The Gunners have performed admirably, but they have dropped points against Brighton and Aston Villa, allowing the Reds to pull even further away at the league’s summit.

Saka is expected to return in April, and he could be back before the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, should the Emirates outfit make it that far. The club’s medical staff will be aiming to get him back to full fitness slightly earlier than expected though, with crunch clashes against Manchester United and Chelsea scheduled for March.

Ben White

Arsenal’s defensive stability has been visibly shaken without Ben White. The one-time Leeds United loanee has seamlessly transitioned from centre-back to right-back under Arteta’s guidance and has been a pillar of this Arsenal team’s previous two title challenges. His timing in tackles, composure in possession, and ability to contribute to attacks have made him indispensable.

He suffered a knee injury earlier in the season, and while he did manage to shake off the knock-back in October, he ended up aggravating the injury during the festive period and has been out ever since. Dutchman Jurrien Timber has stepped up in his absence, but he remains Arsenal’s sole fit right full-back, with Thomas Partey having to play there in recent weeks as a rotation option.

The good news for Arsenal fans is that White is expected to return to action in the next few weeks, and was on the bench in Saturday’s win over Leicester City. His presence will be vital heading into the business end of the season, where consistency in defence often setting contenders apart from pretenders.

Gabriel Jesus

Few forwards in the modern game work as hard or offer as much versatility as Gabriel Jesus. Since arriving from Manchester City, the Brazilian striker has been pivotal in Arsenal’s high-pressing system, using his intelligence and movement to create opportunities for others. Unfortunately, The Gunners’ attack is now without its cardinal link, as the former Palmeiras man is injured once again, his third serious injury in as many seasons at the Emirates.

It was his injury back in the 2022/23 season that coincided with Arsenal’s downturn in form, ultimately allowing them to be caught and overthrown by eventual champions Manchester City. Last season, he missed numerous games once again, although his absence wasn’t felt quite as much. This term has perhaps been Jesus’ worst since making the move to the capital, netting just three times in the Premier League, and his latest injury could spell the end for him at the Emirates.

Jesus isn’t expected to return this season. Whether he remains with the club at the start of next remains to be seen.

Gabriel Martinelli

Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli is the most recent player to join the injured list. He was injured in the recent 2-0 defeat away at Newcastle in the EFL Cup semi-final, a loss that completed a 4-0 aggregate win for the Magpies and punched their tickets to Wembley. The pacey wideman is expected to return in the next month, and that can’t come quickly enough for Arteta, who is already relying on the teenage winger Ethan Nwaneri on the flanks.

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Perhaps the most frustrating injury situation involves Tomiyasu. Highly versatile and equally adept at playing as a full-back or centre-back, the Japanese international has been a valuable squad player since his arrival. He has been out all season with a knee injury and unfortunately, Arsenal have revealed he will not be ready to return until the end of 2025. He too may follow Jesus out of the door in the summer with the Gunners having plenty of cover at full-back, once the aforementioned Ben White recovers.

Kai Havertz

The Germany international injured his hamstring while on Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai in another blow for Arteta and is set to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.