Mikel Arteta delivered disappointing news to Arsenal fans ahead of Sunday’s match against West Ham United, revealing that Oleksandr Zinchenko was “not fit”, Emile Smith Rowe had “turned his ankle”, and Jorginho hadn’t trained due to carrying an issue.
Regarding Gabriel Jesus, Arteta provided no specific update, simply stating that the striker was unavailable.
However, there was no mention of Takehiro Tomiyasu’s absence until after the game, when Arteta confirmed it was due to another minor injury.
“He had a niggle when he came back from the national team,” Arteta admitted. “It was not the moment to risk him after how many minutes he’s played.”
Tomiyasu has struggled to play a significant role for Arsenal in recent months, with his absence from the AFC Asian Cup followed by a calf injury.
Initially expected to return directly to the Arsenal squad after the Asian Cup, further assessments indicated that playing him against West Ham would pose a fitness risk.
With luck, Tomiyasu’s absence won’t be prolonged, as Arsenal prepare to face Burnley on Saturday before their Champions League last-16 first-leg match against FC Porto on Wednesday, February 21st.
In related news, Fabrizio Romano recently reported that Tomiyasu will imminently sign his new contract at Arsenal, with the deal “100% sealed”.
Only formalities remain before the announcement, as Romano asserts Tomiyasu is ready to sign. Previously, Romano indicated Tomiyasu had garnered interest from clubs in Italy and elsewhere, but a departure was never likely. Arsenal were keen on retaining him, and a new deal is now imminent.
Current Arsenal injuries:
Emile Smith Rowe turned his ankle in training and missed the game against West Ham. The recovery time for ankle sprains varies but can range from 2-3 weeks to 3-6 months.
Jorginho is nursing a foot injury but it wasn’t severe enough to keep him off the bench for Arsenal’s 6-0 win over West Ham.
Gabriel Jesus is sidelined with another knee injury, with no clear timeframe for his return. Oleksandr Zinchenko was absent from the squad against West Ham due to an unspecified issue after coming off at halftime against Liverpool.
Fabio Vieira, recovering from groin surgery, experienced a setback and is expected to return in mid-February. Thomas Partey has been out since October and faces setbacks each time he nears a return.
