Arsenal injury update: Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta is expected to be without key first-team stars again for crucial Liverpool match

Arsenal have yet another injury issues to contend with after Riccardo Calafiori was forced off against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The defender had to be replaced after twist his knee as he slipped on the turf, and is now not expected to be available to face Liverpool on Sunday.

The Gunners also face a nervous wait over Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, while captain Martin Odegaard is still not ready to return.

Riccardo Calafiori is set to be out for a few weeks with a knee injury

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal were handed a major scare when Riccardo Calafiori was forced off against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night.

The Italian defender was replaced with 20 minutes remaining after stretching awkwardly and he appeared to jar his knee. Calafiori tried to continue after receiving treatment, but soon needed to be replaced.

Reports in Italy suggest that Calafiori has avoided serious injury but there is a problem with his medial collateral ligament, which is likely to keep him out for a few weeks.

That would mean the defender will miss a number of crucial matches, starting this week at home to Liverpool, and could be out until after next month’s international break.

Speaking to Prime Video after the game, Arteta said: “Riccy I don’t know, he felt something. He could not continue playing, so bit of a worry.”

Potential return date: November 23 vs Nottingham Forest

Bukayo Saka

Saka remains sidelined after limped off during England’s shock Nations League defeat to Greece at Wembley with an apparent hamstring issue, and is not expected to be fit to face Liverpool.

There was optimism at Arsenal that the injury was minor and that he could face Bournemouth on Saturday, but the winger missed the defeat and the narrow win over Shakhtar, and Arteta confirmed he is “unlikely” to be fit for the top-of-the-table clash.

Potential return date: October 30 vs Preston

Key duo: Arsenal needs Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka back as soon as possible

Getty Images

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal’s influential captain has not played for his club since the 1-1 home draw with Brighton on August 31 after suffering significant ankle ligament damage while away on international duty with Norway last month.

Odegaard claimed earlier this month that he was recovering ahead of schedule, and provided a fresh update in his programme notes ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Shakhtar in the Champions League.

Arteta has confirmed that Odegaard will not be fit enough to face Liverpool on Sunday.

Potential return date: October 30 vs Preston

Jurrien Timber

Timber was among a handful of players seemingly in the mix to return for Arsenal straight after the international break, along with the likes of White and Zinchenko.

Arteta said before Bournemouth: “The three of them are quite close. Today we will have to push and see who is because we are stronger with the numbers, especially on our right side. Hopefully we have some positive news today and we’ll have some players back tomorrow.”

However, Timber was absent again for the defeat to the Cherries and then the win over Shakhtar. Speaking on Monday ahead of the Shakhtar game, Arteta said: “It is going to be close. We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group. But he is pretty close.” Potential return date: October 27 vs Liverpool

Setback: The luckless Takehiro Tomiyasu faces another spell on the sidelines for Arsenal

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Tomiyasu has been desperately unlucky on the injury front of late, making his long-awaited return from a knee problem off the bench against Southampton before the international break.

However, reports that he had suffered another setback were confirmed by Arteta ahead of the trip to Bournemouth.

“We don’t know that (how long he will be out for),” said Arteta. “It doesn’t look like, hopefully, a long period but we have to see when he comes back how he reacts to the load and to the impact on the pitch as well.

“But we really need him. He has been incredible, his work rate, the amount of hours he has put in to get back.

“He did it and he was in great shape - and now he has got something else again. But, we are all behind him. He needs our support and hopefully he will be fine.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Kieran Tierney

Tierney has not played since being stretchered off with a serious hamstring injury during Scotland’s group game against Switzerland at Euro 2024 back in June.

A timeline for his return is still unclear as things stand. Tierney is unlikely to play much when fit anyway given Arteta’s strong full-back options, with his latest injury likely having prevented a permanent summer exit after spending last season on loan in LaLiga with Real Sociedad.

Potential return date: Unknown