Arsenal injury crisis deepens as nine key players face fitness doubts

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Arsenal face a mounting injury crisis with nine first-team players dealing with fitness concerns following the international break, casting doubt over squad availability for the crucial upcoming fixtures.

The Gunners return to action against Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday before facing Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on April 7 and resuming their Premier League title challenge against Bournemouth on April 11.

International break casualties

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice both withdrew from England duty for medical assessment after joining the squad late. England manager Thomas Tuchel revealed concerning details about Rice’s condition, stating the midfielder “feels a discomfort since quite a while, and he’s playing through it” and is now “on the edge” of his fitness levels.

Both Gabriel and William Saliba were forced to pull out of international duty with knee problems after playing the full 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City. Gabriel complained of right knee pain, while Saliba is dealing with “recurring pain in his left ankle” requiring a minimum 10-day rest period according to the French Football Federation.

New signings Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapie also face uncertain timelines. Madueke suffered a knee injury during England’s match against Uruguay following what Tuchel described as a challenge “on the edge,” though initial assessments suggest the issue may not be as serious as first feared.

Positive return news

There is encouraging news regarding Martin Odegaard, who has been sidelined for a month with a knee injury. Norway manager Stale Solbakken indicated the Arsenal captain’s return is “within reach,” raising hopes he could feature after the international break.

Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard also withdrew from international duty with their respective ankle and unspecified injuries, though both cases appear precautionary given their recent involvement.

The most significant long-term absentee remains Eberechi Eze, who is facing around a month out with the calf injury sustained against Bayer Leverkusen. His earliest potential return would be the home fixture against Fulham on May 2.

Mikel Merino continues his rehabilitation from foot surgery in February and remains in a race against time to feature again this season and be available for the World Cup.

Mikel Arteta is expected to provide updates on the squad’s fitness levels when he addresses the media ahead of the Southampton clash. The extent of these injury concerns could significantly impact Arsenal’s ability to compete across multiple competitions during a crucial period of the season.