Arsenal injury update: Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White latest news and return dates

Arsenal have again been boosted by Bukayo Saka shaking off a fitness concern but head into the international break sweating over further injuries.

It seems like Saka is a weekly doubt for the Gunners as opposition teams target their talisman but has still managed to start all but one Premier League game this season.

Captain Martin Odegaard remains on the sidelines though, and has been joined by defender Ben White. Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe are also battling injury issues, while Jurrien Timber remains a long-term absentee.

Here are the latest Arsenal injury news and potential return dates...

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is hoping to return after the international break (AFP)
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is hoping to return after the international break (AFP)

Martin Odegaard

The Arsenal captain initially headed for the sidelines due to a hip injury, which is behind the decision to rest him up over the international break by withdrawing him for Norway duty.

A 10-minute cameo in the defeat at West Ham in the Carabao Cup was his last piece of action as he then missed the games against Newcastle, Sevilla and Burnley.

However, that was due to a concussion suffered in training ahead of the St. James' Park trip.

Potential return date: November 25 vs Brentford

Ben White

The defender was a new name on the absentee list ahead of the visit of Burnley, with Mikel Arteta and his medical team opting to take the defender out of contention for the win after spotting something in training the day before.

Arteta praised White for often "playing through the pain" but decided to was for the player's benefit to let him rest with an out-of-form Clarets side coming to town.

The boss told reporters after the game: “Yesterday in training he wasn’t comfortable. He didn’t look right, but Ben won’t give you much.

“He always wants to be on the pitch and he wants to hide anything that is in there. But we highlighted something happening there that we noticed in the last two weeks as well.

“We wanted to protect him today. It was the right call from the physios and the medical department and tomorrow we will assess him and understand what’s happening.”

Potential return date: November 25 vs Brentford

Emile Smith Rowe

Smith Rowe was given a rare start against Sheffield United last month thanks to Odegaard's lingering injury, but has since picked up a knee issue.

It's an awful blow for the young No10, who has endured a string of fitness woes over recent seasons and is now expected to be out for "weeks."

Arteta said: “We have an issue with him. He felt something in his knee and started to feel some pain after the game - we are assessing him, but [it’s] a big worry with him. He's going to be out for weeks."

Potential return date: December 2023

Gabriel Jesus

Nketiah led the line against Sheffield United due to the absence of Jesus, who was forced off late on with a hamstring injury after a brilliant display in the first game against Sevilla.

The Brazilian was sent for a scan that revealed a muscle problem that is keeping him out. Arteta has been unwilling to put an exact time frame on his recovery and surprised surprise that Jesus was named in the Brazil squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.

When asked about Jesus playing for Brazil during the international break, Arteta said: "I’m going to talk to the doctors and him [Jesus] because he didn’t do any training with us.

"He’s far from working with the team, but it’s an internal communication between the club and the national team. The first intention is always to seek the best for the player."

Potential return date: December 2023

Arsenal remain without both Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey, two key players (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal remain without both Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey, two key players (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Thomas Partey

Partey's late 15-minute cameo off the bench in the 1-0 win over title rivals Manchester City early last month was his first Arsenal appearance since a groin issue sustained back in August but has not been seen since in a Gunners shirt.

After suffering the muscle injury, Partey was predicted to be out for a few weeks, but has since undergone surgery and Standard Sport understands he will miss the remainder of 2023 as he targets a return to fitness ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

"It’s a big concern,” Arteta said recently. “Because when Thomas is fit and available and has been part of the team, we’ve seen what the results and the impact he has had on the team.

“This season we have more protection especially for that reason because we know in the last two seasons what has happened and the impact it has had on the team, so we had to address that.

“We are gutted for him but he needs to lift himself up again with our support and go again because he is a player that is critical for us.”

Potential return date: January 2023

Jurrien Timber

The summer signing from Ajax suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest back in August and underwent surgery.

Timber is continuing his rehabilitation but there is no time frame for his return at present and he likely faces a battle to play again at all this season.

Potential return date: Summer 2024