Arsenal's injury crisis through the second half of the 2024/25 season left many supporters feeling as though they left meat on the bone across the campaign, finishing second in the Premier League and reaching the Champions League semifinals.
Coming into the 2025-26 season, it was believed that a full-strength Arsenal would be competitive for multiple trophies, giving Mikel Arteta his full complement of talent to work with. Add in a productive summer transfer window, and this team looked ready to fire on all cylinders.
Unfortunately, it has not taken long for the injury bug to strike again, and the club now faces another headache with multiple players sidelined due to fitness concerns.
The Sporting News rounds up all the latest reports about injured players, including the expected return date for each and who has been sidelined at various stages of the campaign.
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Noni Madueke injury news, return date
- Injury: Knee injury (Sep. 21)
- Expected return: mid-November
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Noni Madueke sustained a knee injury during the 1-1 draw with Manchester City in mid-September. Madueke was removed at halftime, initially speculated to be a tactical change but eventually understood to be injury-related.
While Ornstein reports that Madueke avoided an ACL injury, he will be sidelined around two months. It's unknown the exact nature of the knee injury he sustained, but the timeline for return suggests either an MCL or meniscus injury.
Martin Odegaard injury news, return date
- Injury: Knee injury (Oct. 4)
- Expected return: mid-November
Martin Odegaard had been dealing with a shoulder injury for much of the season, but managed to put that aside and return to the field after two spells on the sidelines.
Unfortunately, the injury bug struck again not long after, with Odegaard left clutching his knee on the turf 30 minutes into the match against West Ham on October 4. Thankfully, Mikel Arteta confirmed that the injury was blunt force rather than non-contact, saying, "He had a clash, knee to knee. Immediately, he was uncomfortable."
While Arteta bemoaned that Odegaard was "not positive about it" and that "he has a brace on it," he said "hopefully it's not that bad." Arsenal eventually confirmed that Odegaard had suffered an MCL injury, and while it took some time to develop a plan for his return, it is known now that Odegaard will be out through the November international break.
Gabriel Jesus injury news, return date
- Injury: ACL tear (Jan. 7)
- Expected return: mid-October
Gabriel Jesus has a history of knee injuries, and the Brazilian suffered the second ACL tear of his career in early 2025, keeping him out for an extended period. He missed the entire second half of the 2024-25 season and remains sidelined as he nears a return.
Jesus is expected to be back sometime in October, although that timeline could change, as ACL recovery varies greatly by individual. Once back on the field, he will likely need significant ramp-up time before he is fully match-fit for a full 90 minutes.
Kai Havertz injury news, return date
- Injury: Knee injury (Aug. 17)
- Expected return: mid-November
It took just 30 minutes for Kai Havertz to become the first Arsenal player to go down with an injury this season. He suffered a knee injury in mid-August that required surgery, sidelining him for three months.
"He's looking really good, he's walking freely. He's starting to load the knee and started to do some bits," Mikel Arteta said in September. Havertz still has some time before he can participate in any match action.
Piero Hincapie injury news, return date
- Injury: Groin injury (Sep. 21)
- Expected return: mid-October
In late September, Arteta confirmed that Hincapie is battling a minor groin injury, which appears to be a short-term issue.
"He picked up a little groin injury," Arteta said. "We have to assess him over the next few days to see how he goes. There’s been a change of load and he didn’t really have a preseason after the injury. I think it will be short-term."
Hincapie was not part of the Ecuador squad to face the United States in the October international break, but he is expected to return to Arsenal shortly after the window closes and club football returns.