Arsenal injury update: Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe latest news and return dates
Arsenal are contending with a substantial injury list despite making it four consecutive wins on the weekend.
Questions over their firepower were answered with a 6-0 thrashing of West Ham, even though star striker Gabriel Jesus sat out the second game in a row.
The Brazilian is joined in the treatment room by Takehiro Tomiyasu, Emile Smith Rowe and Oleksandr Zinchenko after they suffered recent issues.
Thomas Partey is battling back from a long-term injury along with Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber.
Here is your latest update of Arsenal injury news and return dates...
Gabriel Jesus
Brazilian striker Jesus was unavailable for the second game in a row on the weekend as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Mikel Arteta admitted that his player may not have been fully ready to play in the recent win over Nottingham Forest, in which he suffered a setback and sat out the following wins over Liverpool and West Ham.
Last week, the Gunners boss insisted it was a “short-term” issue and he simply stated that Jesus was “not available in the squad” in a pre-game interview on Sunday.
It remains to be seen if he will be back in action at Burnley next weekend.
Potential return date: Late February 2024
Jorginho
While named on the bench at West Ham, Arteta admitted that Jorginho was not necessarily fit to play having picked up a fatigue-related issue against Liverpool.
“Jorgi hasn't trained almost all week as he's been carrying an issue and it took him a while to recover on top of that,” said the Arsenal manager.
“It's been going on for a while and obviously he aggravated it playing 96 minutes at that level after a while. But the effort that he put in was incredible. He wanted to be here again today to support the team so that's the spirit of Jorgi.”
Potential return date: Saturday, February 17 vs Burnley
Thomas Partey
Still yet to play since October due to a hamstring injury, Partey is once again pushing for full fitness having suffered a recent setback.
However Arsenal have been careful not to put a timeframe on his eventual return.
“He’s progressing really well, but it’s a bit too soon to tell you exactly when we’re going to have him back,” Arteta said last week.
Potential return date: Unknown
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Zinchenko was a doubt for the West Ham game having picked up a calf injury in the win over Liverpool.
Ultimately he did not make the squad in east London and Arteta labelled him “not fit” in his pre-game summary.
He was being assessed last week but the severity of his injury is not yet clear.
Potential return date: Unknown
Emile Smith Rowe
Arsenal were without Smith Rowe at West Ham after he turned his ankle in training.
Not much else is known about the injury at this time.
Potential return date: Unknown
Takehiro Tomiyasu
A slight injury suffered at the Asian Cup meant Tomiyasu was absent on the weekend.
Following a busy campaign with Japan, Arsenal opted to rest him upon his return but Arteta has suggested he will be available soon.
Asked why Tomiyasu was missing, Arteta replied: “He had a niggle when he came with the national team. It was not the moment to risk him after how many minutes he has played.”
Potential return date: Saturday, February 17 vs Burnley
Fabio Vieira
Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira is hoping to make the squad for the first leg of the Gunners’ last-16 Champions League tie in Porto.
Vieira underwent groin surgery in November but he is stepping up his recovery and is close to returning to full training.
The 23-year-old is optimistic he can make his comeback over the next fortnight after not playing for three months.
Potential return date: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 vs Porto
Jurrien Timber
There was a big hint that Timber will be back from a serious knee injury before the end of the campaign last week, when Arsenal named him in their squad for the Champions League knockouts.
“These months will definitely make me stronger,” he told the club website recently. “It’s an opportunity for me to do well. So even though I’m not playing, I can take this moment to become stronger mentally, physically, and also to feel at home with this group of boys. It’s an opportunity I’ve taken with both hands
Potential return date: Spring/summer 2024