Arsenal injury updates: Will Bukayo Saka and William Saliba be fit for Chelsea clash?

The dreary October international break is nearing its conclusion, and we can start looking forward to Arsenal’s return to Premier League action.

The Gunners headed into the break in high spirits following their 1-0 victory over Manchester City which ended a run of 12 successive league defeats to Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens. The triumph also took their tally through eight games to 20 points – level with current leaders Tottenham.

Mikel Arteta’s side are yet to hit full stride this term, rendering their productive start all the more impressive. A factor in this has been Arteta’s inability to deploy what many might regard as his strongest starting XI. Arsenal, like Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City, and Spurs, have all had to deal with key absences at the start of 2023/24.

Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Thomas Partey have all missed games, while Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard were all forced to withdraw from their respective national teams this month due to injuries.

Arsenal injury updates: Will Bukayo Saka and William Saliba be fit for Chelsea clash?

Here’s an injury round-up ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.

Bukayo Saka

The productive Saka missed the victory over City due to a hamstring injury he picked up in the defeat to Lens a few days prior. While his injury isn’t thought to be serious, he returned to London Colney over the break and is said to have undergone assessments on Monday.

In truth, updates regarding Saka have come few and far between over the break, but there’s hope he’ll be fit to face Chelsea this weekend.

William Saliba

Saliba has started all of Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League games thus far having seen his 2022/23 season cut short due to a back injury.

However, after he withdrew from the France squad, the superb young defender is now an injury doubt ahead of the Chelsea game.

A “chronic” toe injury is said to have been bothering Saliba, but, like Saka, there’s confidence he’ll be fine for Saturday’s game.

Leandro Trossard

The other ‘fresh’ injury concern is Trossard, who was removed from the City win at half-time. While his quiet showing convinced many that his substitution was based on performance, it was later disclosed that the Belgian had picked up a knock.

A hamstring injury had kept Trossard out of action for a couple of weeks before he returned and started against Lens. His hamstring is believed to be bothering him again, but his removal from the national team squad was merely a precaution.

He isn’t expected to be out for very long at all.