Arsenal are preparing for a crucial month of fixtures, but fitness concerns continue to hang over some of their key players.
The Gunners currently face uncertainty surrounding several stars, including Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, who are both nursing injuries sustained before the international break. Now, however, there is a glimmer of positive news, with Ben White aiming to hand the team a timely boost ahead of their clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
White was part of Mikel Arteta’s starting line-up on the opening day of the Premier League season, putting in a strong performance at Old Trafford as Arsenal earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
The right-back helped the side keep a clean sheet, but unfortunately, he has been sidelined for the past two matches due to injury. Encouragingly, White’s recovery is progressing well, and the club is hopeful that he could return to the squad this weekend. His fitness will continue to be monitored closely by Arsenal’s medical staff, with a final decision to be made closer to the game.
Arsenal, though, will remain cautious given the demanding schedule ahead. Following the Forest clash, they will immediately begin their Champions League campaign with a trip to face Athletic Club on Tuesday. That is followed by two massive Premier League fixtures against title rivals Manchester City and Newcastle United before the end of September. With such a hectic run of games, Arteta is unlikely to take any unnecessary risks with his players, preferring to ensure they are fully fit before returning to action.
Bukayo Saka is another major concern for Arsenal. The England winger suffered a hamstring injury during the emphatic 5-0 win over Leeds last month. Initial assessments suggested he would be sidelined for three to four weeks.
During the international break, he was scheduled to undergo further scans to determine the progress of his recovery. Arteta is expected to provide more clarity on Saka’s condition in his pre-match press conference later this week. Given how central Saka is to Arsenal’s attacking play, his absence has been particularly worrying for fans.
Meanwhile, William Saliba’s situation has also caused frustration. The centre-back picked up an ankle injury during the warm-up ahead of Arsenal’s match against Liverpool on August 31. Although he attempted to feature in the game, he lasted only five minutes before being forced off.
Saliba was subsequently withdrawn from the French national team squad for their World Cup qualifiers, and Arsenal’s medical staff are still assessing the extent of his injury. Like Saka and White, Saliba will not be rushed back, as the club is prioritising long-term fitness with such an important period ahead.
