Latest Arsenal injury news as nine players could miss Bournemouth amid new injury worry

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been handed yet more injury worries ahead of the return of the Premier League this weekend. The Gunners travel down to take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).

The Gunners sit in third place in the Premier League table, just one point adrift of leaders Liverpool. Arteta’s side are also on the same points as reigning Champions Man City in second place, in what could be shaping up to be a three-way race for the title.

The game against Bournemouth could potentially see Arsenal without several players through injury. The latest worry is Takehiro Tomiyasu, it is reported that the full-back has suffered a recurrence of a knee injury that kept him out of action at the start of the season.

In another blow, Gabriel Martinelli has suffered an injury while on international duty. In a statement, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said: “Player Gabriel Martinelli complained of pain in his right calf and underwent an MRI on Sunday night, which showed a small area of muscle edema in that area.

“The athlete continues to undergo physiotherapy treatment under the care of the Brazilian national team’s medical department.”

Martinelli is therefore a big doubt for the clash against Bournemouth. Arsenal face an anxious wait to discover the extent of his injury.

It’s a similar situation with Thomas Partey, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz who all pulled out of international duty over the current break due to injury. Saka suffered an injury during England’s Nations League clash against Greece on Thursday, while both Partey and Havertz pulled out before their nation’s first game.

Arteta will be hoping to welcome back Ben White and Jurrien Timber from injury for the game against the Cherries. There will, however, be some doubt over their availability with White missing the last four in all competitions and Timber missing the clash against Southampton through injury.

Arsenal will definitely be without four players for the match. Martin Odegaard is continuing his recovery from injury, but the game will come too soon for the club captain to make his return.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is closing in on a return after missing the last four Premier League games with a calf injury. But, again, the clash against Bournemouth may come just a bit too soon.

Fellow left-back Kieran Tierney is a longer-term absentee, with no real indication yet on when he could be available for selection. Substitute goalkeeper Neto will not be available due to being ineligible to play against his parent club.