Arsenal faces a challenging injury situation ahead of their crucial home match against Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta’s squad recently boosted their title hopes with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the north London derby, narrowing the gap with league leaders Liverpool.
Despite playing one match more than Liverpool and suffering setbacks like a Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Newcastle and an FA Cup exit to Manchester United, Arsenal displayed resilience. Arteta praised his team for their efforts, saying, “The players were exceptional… now our attention turns to Aston Villa.”
The fixture against Aston Villa kicks off a demanding three-week period with six critical matches, including the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final and Champions League action. However, Arteta must contend with multiple injury concerns across his squad.
Defensive Injuries
Ben White remains sidelined due to a knee injury, having missed ten Premier League games. His versatility and defensive contributions have been sorely missed. He is expected to return by February 2, 2025. Similarly, Takehiro Tomiyasu is recovering from a long-term knee issue but has begun light training.
Arteta emphasized caution in monitoring his progress, with a potential return date of January 25, 2025. Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori, another defender with a knee injury, is close to recovery and may feature as early as January 18, 2025.
Midfield Setback
Promising youngster Ethan Nwaneri is unavailable due to a muscle injury sustained during a match against Brighton. Arteta confirmed that the midfielder will be out for several weeks, with a targeted return on February 2, 2025.
Attacking Woes
Arsenal’s attack is severely impacted by injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus. Saka, a vital player with five goals and 11 assists this season, is recovering from a hamstring injury that required a procedure in December.
He is expected to remain sidelined until late March 2025. Jesus, who suffered a suspected ACL injury during the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, faces a lengthy recovery with no set return date. His absence leaves Arsenal short of options in attack.
As Arsenal enters a demanding stretch of games, the team’s ability to manage these injuries and maintain form will be critical to their pursuit of silverware this season.
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