Arsenal is assessing the fitness of several first-team players as Mikel Arteta prepares his squad for the return of Premier League football.
The international break has given the club valuable time to recover players who were already carrying injuries, but it has also brought new concerns after several Arsenal players experienced problems while away with their national teams.
Kai Havertz is one of the latest players to raise concerns. The Germany international was forced to leave the national team camp after suffering a muscle injury during the draw with the Netherlands. He returned to London for further treatment, leaving Arsenal waiting for a clearer indication of how long he could be unavailable.
Havertz had established himself as an important option for Arteta during the opening weeks of the campaign. His absence would give Arsenal another attacking problem to manage, particularly with a demanding run of fixtures approaching.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is also being monitored after suffering an ankle problem while playing for Norway. The midfielder has experienced fitness difficulties previously, making his recovery an important issue for both club and country.
Declan Rice has also been dealing with a fitness concern and withdrew from England duty. The midfielder has become a key part of Arsenal’s midfield, and his availability will be particularly important when the Premier League resumes.
There is some encouragement elsewhere in the squad, with defenders Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera continuing their recoveries. Arsenal will hope both players can make progress during the remaining days of the international break and return to training without further setbacks.
William Saliba remains a longer-term concern. The French defender has been recovering from a back problem and is following a carefully managed rehabilitation programme. Arsenal are taking a cautious approach with the centre-back rather than rushing him back before he is fully ready.
Another concern emerged when Christos Tzolis was forced off early while playing for Greece. The winger appeared to suffer a problem in his right leg and was substituted after only 18 minutes.
“Arsenal are monitoring several first-team players as they prepare for the return of Premier League football.”
Tzolis has made an encouraging start to his Arsenal career, increasing the importance of his fitness ahead of the club’s next fixtures. Arsenal will now wait for further medical assessments before determining the seriousness of the problem.
The timing of the injuries presents a challenge for Arteta, but the international break has also provided Arsenal’s medical team with additional time to work with recovering players. The club will be hoping that those currently undergoing treatment can return to full training before competitive football resumes.
Arsenal are scheduled to face Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on October 10. The match will mark the club’s return to Premier League action following the international break and could provide an early test of the squad’s depth.
Arteta will therefore be watching the injury situation closely over the coming days. The availability of players such as Havertz, Odegaard and Rice could influence his selection and tactical plans for the match.
For Arsenal, the immediate priority is to avoid further setbacks while giving injured players enough time to recover properly. With the season entering another demanding period, maintaining the fitness of the squad could prove increasingly important as domestic and European commitments continue.
