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Arsenal injury news ahead of Tottenham after Riccardo Calafiori worry and Martin Odegaard update

Riccardo Calafiori of Italy looks during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Italy and Albania at Football Stadium Dortmund on June 15, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.
-Credit: (Image: (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images))


Riccardo Calafiori is the latest injury concern for Arsenal ahead of the North London derby after seemingly picking up a calf problem playing for Italy on Friday night.

Calafiori, 22, started their Nations League game against France at the Parc des Princes before being substituted in the 71st minute with what appeared to be an issue. It comes after the defender played more minutes in that match than across his first three appearances for the Gunners combined.

After playing for the first time as a second-half substitute against Lyon during pre-season, Calafiori did not feature against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League season-opener. Then he only came off the bench late at Aston Villa before replacing Leandro Trossard with just over half an hour remaining against Brighton and Hove Albion after Declan Rice saw red.

READ MORE: Arsenal handed major Riccardo Calafiori injury worry ahead of North London Derby

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As such, the England international will miss the visit to Tottenham Hotspur. Calafiori could now be considered a doubt, potentially joining fellow summer signing Mikel Merino on the sidelines. The midfielder must wait until after the October international for his Arsenal debut after fracturing his shoulder in his first training session.

Takehiro Tomiyasu will also miss the North London Derby, with the defender still nursing a knee injury that has kept the Japan international out since pre-season. However, there is potential for Gabriel Jesus and Kieran Tierney to be involved.

The latter has returned to training after recovering from the hamstring injury that cut short his European Championship campaign with Scotland. Jesus has only played five minutes to start this season because of a groin injury but is expected back soon after the break.

Jurrien Timber has also trained with the Netherlands despite going down and being substituted during the Brighton game with what Mikel Arteta called "cramping" caused by a kick earlier in the match. There were also worries about Martin Odegaard, but the Arsenal captain played the full 90 minutes for Norway away at Kazakhstan.