Arsenal Injury Update: Who’s Out for the North London Derby

Key Points:

• Arsenal face multiple injury concerns ahead of their clash with Tottenham.
• Gabriel Jesus ruled out for much of 2025 due to an ACL tear.
• Jurrien Timber and Jorginho expected to be available despite recent scares.

Injury setbacks have plagued Arsenal throughout the season, derailing their early ambitions and frustrating fans. The Gunners now prepare for Wednesday’s high-stakes north London Derby against Tottenham, but Mikel Arteta will have to contend with a depleted squad.

From Gabriel Jesus’ unfortunate ACL tear to Bukayo Saka’s long-term absence, Arsenal’s injury woes have impacted their form. While some players are nearing recovery, others remain sidelined for the foreseeable future. Here’s the latest on Arsenal’s injury situation.

Goalkeepers & Defenders

• Riccardo Calafiori:
  The Italian defender’s latest muscle injury kept him out of the FA Cup loss to Manchester United. However, Arteta confirmed the issue isn’t serious, and Calafiori could feature against Spurs.
• Jurrien Timber:
  The Dutchman limped off last weekend, sparking concerns over his availability. Thankfully, Arteta clarified that Timber only suffered from cramp and should start on Wednesday.
• Ben White & Takehiro Tomiyasu:
  Both defenders remain long-term absentees after undergoing knee surgeries earlier in the season.

Midfielders

• Jorginho:
  The Italian midfielder sustained a minor calf issue during Sunday’s shootout loss but is expected to be fit. However, with Declan Rice and Thomas Partey available, Jorginho may not start.
• Ethan Nwaneri:
  The young talent, who had been filling in for Bukayo Saka, is sidelined until late January due to a muscle injury sustained against Brighton.

Forwards

• Gabriel Jesus:
  The Brazilian forward’s bad luck continues, as he faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines after tearing his ACL against Manchester United.
• Bukayo Saka:
  Arsenal’s star winger remains out after undergoing hamstring surgery in late 2024. His absence has been a significant blow to the team’s attacking threat.
• Raheem Sterling:
  On a positive note, Sterling returned to action last weekend after recovering from a knee injury.

Arsenal Injury Table

Takeaways

Arsenal’s Defensive Resilience:
Despite long-term absences for key players like White and Tomiyasu, the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back and Timber’s versatility provide some hope for stability at the back.

Attacking Challenges:
Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka’s injuries leave a significant void up front. Arteta will rely heavily on Sterling and Martinelli to step up in their absence.

Derby Stakes:
With their season stuttering, a strong performance against rivals Tottenham could reignite Arsenal’s campaign. However, navigating this crucial fixture with a weakened squad will test Arteta’s tactical acumen.