Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Josh Holland

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could get four huge injury boosts after international break

Arsenal will be hoping the international break provides no fresh injury blows to Mikel Arteta's side this week. The Gunners have had their Premier League title charge put on hold to allow the final round of international fixtures to be played this season ahead of a busy end to the season.

From the start of April, the north Londoners face ten opponents before the end of the season. The 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace extended their lead at the top over Manchester City to eight points - although Pep Guardiola's side do have a game in hand.

Arsenal have been on the receiving end of a considerable amount of injuries throughout the campaign. Gabriel Jesus missed nearly 100 days of action after suffering medial ligament damage at the World Cup - missing 15 games.

READ MORE: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta already has solution to Takehiro Tomiyasu injury blow

Mohamed Elneny has also been out of action since January with a knee injury and will miss the rest of the season. More recently, right-back Takehrio Tomiyasu was forced to undergo surgery, seeing him join Elneny on the sidelines.

Arteta will be hoping a similar tale doesn't repeat itself with four others players. William Saliba and Eddie Nketiah - who both missed the win over Palace - will aim to utilise the two-week break to give themselves a chance of returning.

Salbia was forced off in the Europa League defeat to Sporting CP with a back problem and later withdrew from the France national team. Nketiah, who has been out since the start of March, remains a "few weeks away" and will be hoping to be back as soon as possible.

For Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Jesus, the aim is to rebuild their match fitness after time out. Jesus has come off the bench in the past two league games and will remain in London Colney throughout the international break to give himself the best chance of starting against Leeds.

Smith Rowe, who has suffered a couple of knocks throughout the season, will hope to gain some valuable minutes for the England Under-21s. The Hale Ender has been a constant figure off the bench in the past month but has struggled for fitness after such a lengthy period out.

The Gunners welcome Leeds to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday April 1 before facing Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea in April. Arteta be desperate to have as many of his players available for the history-defining period of the season.

READ NEXT:

Arsenal set for Wayne Rooney meeting after major decision made

Arsenal goal machine in injury blow as statement released

Latest Arsenal injury news as three players to miss Leeds United after Tomiyasu shock

Arsenal's five toughest Premier League matches in title race amid Man City advantage

Arsenal tipped for Real Madrid transfer repeat with player Mikel Arteta is 'obsessed' with

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.