Arsenal and Sunderland are gearing up for a crucial Premier League encounter this Saturday, but both sides face significant injury concerns ahead of the match at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, fresh from securing a spot in the Carabao Cup final, aim to protect their six-point lead at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Sunderland, impressive in their return to the top flight, sit just behind Brentford on goal difference for a European spot, though their away form has been less stellar.
Injury Round-Up: Key Absences and Doubts
Here is a detailed look at the early injury news affecting both Arsenal and Sunderland, with six players confirmed out and two major doubts that could influence the outcome of this high-stakes fixture.
Players Ruled Out
Granit Xhaka - The veteran midfielder is sidelined for a few more weeks. Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris provided an update, stating, "Yes, he is doing well. He'll have another assessment in around one week, so from that point we will see where he is for the next stage of his rehabilitation... Maybe it will be three more weeks."
Arthur Masuaku - Another absentee, Masuaku sustained an ankle injury during AFCON and will miss the next four to six weeks, as confirmed by Le Bris.
Jocelin Ta Bi - The January signing is also ruled out, with Le Bris noting, "Yeah, we'll need approximately, I would say, 2-3 weeks to be game fit, so we'll take time to rebuild his fitness level as well, so it's a good opportunity for us to help him connect with the squad. He should be training with us in around ten days. I don't want to set a limit."
Bertrant Traore - Traore is expected to be absent until next month. Le Bris explained, "We are expecting a three-to-four-week process. We won’t rush him, but he will be back soon. We have other options."
Mikel Merino - Arsenal's Mikel Merino will miss the rest of the season due to a foot fracture. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed, "He needs to go through a [surgical] procedure, which is not always positive. He's a big player for us...That's a big blow."
Max Dowman - Dowman is nearing a return but won't be ready for a couple of weeks. Arteta said, "It will be a little bit more [longer] than Mosquera. He's growing, and we need to be very careful and a little more protective. He has a different schedule as well because he needs to go to school...But I think he's quite close. He's on the pitch now, he's doing well."
Players with Doubts
Bukayo Saka - Saka is a major doubt after dealing with an issue. Arteta commented, "He’s OK, we need to have more tests tomorrow to understand how he is. This game was too short. Let’s hope that it’s not too much." He is expected to be out for at least a couple of weeks.
Martin Odegaard - Odegaard is also in doubt after feeling a niggle during the Leeds game. Arteta stated, "During the [Leeds] game, he felt a little niggle. We tried yesterday, [and] he wasn’t comfortable. So, let’s see if he’s available for the weekend, hopefully."
Match Context and Implications
This injury news comes at a pivotal time for both teams. Arsenal, leading the Premier League, must navigate these absences to maintain their advantage, while Sunderland, unbeaten at home but struggling away, will look to exploit any weaknesses. The absence of key players like Merino and doubts over Saka and Odegaard could significantly impact Arsenal's attacking prowess, whereas Sunderland's missing midfielders might affect their defensive solidity.
Fans and analysts will be closely monitoring further updates as the match approaches, with team selections likely to be influenced by these fitness concerns. The outcome could have broader implications for the title race and European qualification spots.
