The last thing Mikel Arteta needed was a longer treatment-room list. As he prepares Arsenal for Saturday’s home game against Leeds, the manager is still working through the fallout from a 3-0 defeat at Brighton on 19 September.
It was the champions’ first loss of the season and ended a perfect start of seven wins from seven in all competitions. It left them second in the table, three points behind Manchester City. Over the three weeks since, several members of his squad have returned from international duty injured.
Attack takes the biggest hit
The absence of Kai Havertz is by far the most considerable. After being hard-tackled by Quinten Timber, he had to leave the field in Germany’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands. The German FA said it was a muscle strain, while Arsenal have not commented on when the player might return to the field. Havertz has played every single match of Arsenal’s league campaign this season, scoring three goals.
Christos Tzolis, a player brought in this summer, will not be taking the pitch. He hurt his hamstrings while playing for Greece, and there is no update on when he will get back to playing.
Max Dowman’s presence is also in doubt. The teenager pulled out of the England Under-19 competition after suffering a contact injury and missing the match against Belgium. A match which they lost 1-0. Dowman scored during the game with the Republic of Ireland earlier in the window. However, he was sent off during the break.
Konsa’s fitness is the big question
The defence has its own issue. Ezri Konsa joined from Aston Villa in August for a reported €60m. He left England’s camp before the last Nations League game against Czechia. England manager Thomas Tuchel claimed that the defender had arrived with discomfort. He then sustained another injury during the 7-0 win over Croatia. Tuchel called it a knock, not a muscle injury. He claimed it was not significant, but he did not want to take a risk.
Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera are back on the training ground after groin and thigh problems. Both are still being evaluated. William Saliba is still sidelined with a back issue and has yet to play this season.
Rice’s absence looks precautionary
Declan Rice has withdrawn from the England national team, with doubts being cast on whether it’s because of a slight problem or simply load management. It is thought he’ll be perfectly ok to start.
Arteta would have preferred not to learn a lesson in physicality from Brighton and having Leeds come into his team like this. Saturday will show just how deep Arsenal’s depth is.
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