Positive injury updates after North London Derby draw
![Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (R) celebrates with Arsenal's Belgian midfielder Leandro Trossard (L) after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 19, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (R) celebrates with Arsenal's Belgian midfielder Leandro Trossard (L) after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 19, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e61186b55b070626650be5c3867c52a51ec3dd123b0f6d4a0534af2192c7a748.jpg)
A feeling of doom and gloom surrounded Arsenal after their 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday. Supporters were left frustrated by the Gunners’ performance in the derby, but there were also concerns on the injury front.
Arsenal’s productive yet somewhat uninspiring start to the 2023/24 campaign has been mitigate by several key injuries. After Jurrien Timber tore his ACL on Matchday 1, Mikel Arteta has since lost Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey and Leandro Trossard among others to various issues.
The aforementioned four were absent on Sunday as Spurs twice fought back to secure a point at the Emirates, with the visitors aided by Declan Rice’s absence in the second half.
Rice, whose been a dominant figure at the start of his Arsenal career, was forced off at half-time with back discomfort. There were initial fears that the England international could be sidelined for a while, but the latest updates on Monday suggest that he, along with Martinelli, Partey, and Trossard will be back in action soon.
Positive injury updates after North London Derby draw
🚨🚨| There is optimism that Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard could also be available for that game after suffering hamstring injuries.
— afcsphere (@afcsphere) September 25, 2023
Trossard is in contention to return for the trip to Bournemouth, while Gabriel Martinelli could be involved in that game as well,… pic.twitter.com/OglyCFIcXO
While Arteta will not risk any of his current absentees on Wednesday night against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, there’s hope that both Trossard and Martinelli could play some part at Bournemouth this weekend.
Martinelli picked up a hamstring injury in the win over Everton, while Trossard sustained his issue in the 4-0 win over PSV last week.
As for Rice, the back injury he sustained is not thought to be serious after he underwent tests on Monday. However, he’s reportedly still in some discomfort and could spend a brief period on the sidelines.
Thankfully, he should be in action when Arsenal host Manchester City in their first meeting of the campaign on 8 October. There’s also optimism that Partey, who was initially expected to return after the international break, could be back fit for City’s visit.
The Ghanaian midfielder has been nursing a thigh injury since the September break, but he’s recovering well and could be back in action much sooner than expected. These midfield injury boosts are huge considering that the visitors will be without Rodri, who picked up a red card against Nottingham Forest on Saturday and is, as a result, suspended for the Emirates trip.
Some good news for a Monday!