Arsenal injury updates after Inter loss | OneFootball

Arsenal's mounting injury list was held accountable for another defeat on Wednesday evening as the Gunners were beaten by Serie A champions Inter in the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta and his players will feel aggrieved not to have come away with at least a point from their 1-0 loss at San Siro, but defeat in Italy ramps up the pressure ahead of Sunday's crucial trip to Stamford Bridge to face London foes Chelsea in the Premier League.

The Gunners already find themselves seven points off table toppers Liverpool and currently sit below Chelsea on goal difference. Having lost two of their last three league matches, they are in desperate need of respite in west London.

Injuries have been a prevailing theme of Arsenal's season, with Martin Odegaard - who returned from a lengthy layoff against Inter - among those to have resided in the treatment room. The Norwegian's return is welcomed with warm embrace but the Gunners are still without some integral first-teamers.

Here is the latest Arsenal injury news before Sunday's meeting with Chelsea.

Rice missed the Inter clash with injury / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

Odegaard may have returned to action but Arsenal now find themselves sweating on the fitness of their other star midfielder. Declan Rice missed the clash with Inter midweek due to a foot injury sustained in the defeat to Newcastle United last weekend. He's now a doubt for the Chelsea match.

Speaking before the trip to Italy, Arteta stated: "Declan unfortunately has picked up an injury against Newcastle. He was able to finish the game but he wasn't feeling good in the last few days so we have to assess him on Thursday to understand whether he will be fit or not for the weekend."

"It was a knock so it's a problem with his foot. He wasn't comfortable with it so at the moment he's not fit."

Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz suffered a head injury against Inter / Marco Luzzani/GettyImages

Kai Havertz was a casualty of the midweek defeat, sustaining a bloody head injury late in the match and making way for Odegaard in stoppage time. However, Arteta was confident that the German would be available for a return to his old stomping ground this weekend.

"Kai, he has a big cut. He had to come off because he needed some stitches. Hopefully, he will be OK for the weekend," said Arteta after the match.

With Raheem Sterling unavailable this weekend to face his parent club, Arteta will be hoping that the rest of his forwards are passed fit.

Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino came off at half-time against Inter / Giuseppe Bellini/GettyImages

Mikel Merino started in Rice's place in Milan but only lasted the first half before being withdrawn. Asked whether he was substituted due to injury, Arteta revealed that the Spaniard was "not feeling great" in the build-up to the match.

"He was not concussed. But yesterday and today he was already not feeling great. After, when I looked at him, I decided to take him off because I need him 100%," admitted the Arsenal boss.

The exact nature of his issue remains unclear but he could be available this weekend at Stamford Bridge.

Riccardo Calafiori

Riccardo Calafiori is out of action / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

Riccardo Calafiori has struggled with injuries since arriving at Arsenal and has been missing for the Gunners since the 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

The defender jarred his knee in the win and won't return until after the November international period, with Arsenal's first game after the break coming at home to an in-form Nottingham Forest.

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Takehiro Tomiyasu is also missing for the Gunners / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/GettyImages

Takehiro Tomiyasu has managed just one appearance for Arsenal this season - a brief cameo against Southampton in early October. Injuries have forced him into the treatment room on multiple occasions and he currently remains there with a knee issue.

Arteta hasn't revealed when Tomiyasu may return but he will certainly be unavailable for the trip to Chelsea.

Kieran Tierney has been missing since Euro 2024 / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

Arsenal's full-back positions have been decimated by injuries this season and Kieran Tierney is yet to leave the treatment table in 2024/25. Having sustained a hamstring injury at Euro 2024 with Scotland, the out-of-favour left-back was unable to leave the Emirates Stadium as expected over the summer.

No return date has been pencilled in for the 27-year-old, who hasn't featured for Arsenal since the 2023 Community Shield.