Arsenal could be getting five injured players back just in time for the North London Derby on November 23. And if you’re a Spurs fan, this timing is about as bad as it gets.

Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke are the most likely returns, with both expected to be fit for the Emirates showdown.

Gabriel Martinelli is also close to full fitness after missing recent matches. The Standard called it a potential “disaster for Tottenham” Arsenal fielding a full-strength squad for the first time this season, right when it matters most.

Martin Ødegaard is the wildcard. He’s “hoping” to be available, but Norway manager Ståle Solbakken threw cold water on that this week, saying the midfielder is “some distance away” from being ready.

Ødegaard will join the Norway squad Thursday to continue his rehab, but he won’t be playing. Arsenal clearly aren’t rushing him back from that MCL knee injury he picked up against West Ham in October.

Kai Havertz is the least optimistic case. He expects to return “within the next month,” which probably means he’s out for Tottenham.

The German has been dealing with hamstring problems since last season.

Here’s the real kicker: Gabriel Jesus is back in full training after 10 months out with an ACL injury. Ten months.

That’s brutal. Arsenal are planning a friendly for him during the international break to ease him back into match fitness, according to John Cross at the Daily Mirror.

Jesus has been out since tearing his ACL against Manchester United in January, and by all accounts, he’s desperate to get back on the pitch.

Why This Matters Now?

Arsenal’s injury crisis has been testing their squad depth all season. Without Gyökeres, Havertz, and Jesus, Mikel Arteta actually deployed Mikel Merino as an emergency striker against Sunderland. It didn’t go great.

Pain in the Arsenal wrote that the performance showed just how urgently Arsenal need Gyökeres back, adding that “any team needs a big squad to win the title.”

Ødegaard’s absence has been particularly felt. Before his injury, he was creating 2.6 key passes per 90 minutes and making 4.8 progressive carries per 90, according to FBref.

That’s massive for Arsenal’s attacking flow.

Without him, Declan Rice and Merino have been forced to pick up the playmaking slack.

The Timing Couldn’t Be Better

Despite all these injuries, Arsenal have won 10 consecutive games before the Sunderland draw and sit top of the Premier League.

Getting these players back for December when they face eight games in one month could be the difference between maintaining that lead or falling off the pace.

If everyone returns, Arteta will have attacking options for days: Gyökeres, Havertz, and Jesus up front; Saka, Martinelli, Madueke, Trossard, and Eze on the wings; Ødegaard, Rice, and Merino in midfield. That’s proper squad depth.

One former manager, speaking on a BBC podcast, called the international break “timely for Arteta” because it gives players crucial training time without match pressure.

What Happens Next?

The next two weeks are critical. Arsenal’s U21s played Cardiff City on November 11 in the EFL Trophy, which might have given some returning players minutes.

Ødegaard will be in Norway doing rehab but won’t feature in any matches. Jesus could play in that arranged friendly. Gyökeres and Madueke are just building fitness.

By November 23, Arsenal could look completely different from the makeshift squad that drew with Sunderland. For Tottenham, that’s terrible news. For Arsenal fans, it’s perfect timing.

Would you like me to adjust the tone to be more neutral or add more statistical analysis?

Make is more neutral avoiding casual terms like “Now here’s the kicker” Remove all mention of the Cardiff v Arsenal game

Arsenal prepares for major injury returns ahead of Tottenham derby

Arsenal’s squad could receive a substantial boost ahead of the North London Derby against Tottenham on November 23, with as many as five key players targeting a return from injury.

Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke are reportedly closest to full fitness, both expected to be available for selection at the Emirates.

Gabriel Martinelli is also nearing a return after missing recent matches. The Standard has noted that this would be the first time Arsenal could field a full-strength side this season, potentially affecting the competitive balance for the crucial match.

Martin Ødegaard’s situation remains uncertain. Although he hopes to feature against Tottenham, Norway manager Ståle Solbakken stated this week that Ødegaard “is some distance away” from a full recovery after sustaining an MCL knee injury against West Ham in October.

Ødegaard will join Norway’s squad on Thursday to continue his rehabilitation but is not expected to participate in games.

Kai Havertz’s time frame appears longer, with a return estimated “within the next month,” making his involvement against Tottenham unlikely. The midfielder has struggled with recurring hamstring issues since last season.

Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, has resumed full training for the first time since suffering an ACL injury against Manchester United in January 2025.

Arsenal are arranging a friendly for Jesus during the international break to help him regain match fitness, according to John Cross of the Daily Mirror. Jesus’s progress over the past few weeks suggests he is eager to return to first-team action as soon as possible.

Impact on team dynamics

Arsenal’s injury problems have tested their squad depth and tactical flexibility throughout the early part of the season. With Gyökeres, Havertz, and Jesus sidelined, manager Mikel Arteta has been forced to make adjustments, including deploying unconventional options in attack.

Ødegaard’s absence, in particular, has increased playmaking demands on Declan Rice and Merino.

Before the injury, Ødegaard contributed 2.6 key passes and 4.8 progressive carries per 90 minutes, according to FBref statistics, underscoring his importance to Arsenal’s midfield.

Despite these setbacks, Arsenal have maintained a strong Premier League campaign, winning ten matches in a row prior to the most recent draw, and currently lead the table.

The potential return of several starters for the derby and the busy December fixture list, with eight games in one month could provide Arteta with expanded options across attack and midfield.

If all five players regain fitness in time, Arsenal’s attacking lineup could include: Gyökeres, Havertz, and Jesus as strikers; Saka, Martinelli, Madueke, Trossard, and Eze on the wings; and Ødegaard, Rice, and Merino in midfield.

Former manager Robbie Neilson told a BBC podcast that the international break is “timely for Arteta,” providing space for targeted training with the squad.

Recovery and readiness

The next two weeks of the international break are crucial for the rehabilitation and assessment of Arsenal’s injured players. Updates on fitness levels will determine availability for the derby, which is an important fixture for both clubs.

Arsenal fans remain optimistic about the potential for increased squad depth and a stronger starting eleven, although caution persists regarding the risk of re-injury or rushing players back prematurely.

If the recovery processes continue as planned, Arsenal may face Tottenham with more attacking options and greater experience on the pitch, contributing to what is expected to be a closely contested North London Derby.

The Gunners’ Sporting Director, Andrea Berta, looks set to pull off a significant coup in hiring Napoli’s leading Italian scout and bringing him to North London in an attempt to bring even better players into an already strong, deep and star-studded squad.

Maurizio Micheli is already recognised as one of the best scouts in Italy and was responsible for the signings of players such as Alessandro Buongiorno, Scott McTominay,  Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (now at PSG) and Kim Min-Jae (now at Bayern Munich).

Arsenal trophy train adds more fuel as the Gunners Express roars forwards towards destination silverware.

Following a staggering summer transfer window as well as a table-topping start to the season, Arsenal are still looking to improve.

Such signings have helped Napoli to become a major force in Italian football for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona.

The signing of Micheli from Napoli to strengthen technical director James Ellis in the scouting department, shows Arsenal’s ambition to dominate the EPL transfer market and begin to bring regular silverware to The Emirates after a long period of failure in the Premier League and the Champions League alike.

Micheli will be joining an already successful Arsenal recruitment team which signed several key players during the last transfer window includingMartin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyökeres, and Noni Madueke.

This new addition to the Gunners’ recruitment team demonstrates the club’s dedication to long-term success regardless of whether Mikel Arteta can secure silverware this season.

I believe that the Spaniard might well step aside should he fail to sin a major trophy this season with such a strong squad.

Don’t get me wrong. I want Arsenal to succeed this season. However, if Arteta fails to win a major trophy then I strongly believe it is time to give another manager a chance at guiding this star-studded Arsenal squad to long overdue glory.

 

Leandro Trossard 4– Many Premier League fans rate Trossard highly but his last few games have been really frustrating for Arsenal.

The Belgian tries really hard and has heaps of heart, skill and confidence. However, his penalty tonight was dreadful hitting it straight down the middle for the keeper to save with his trailing leg. Many were surprised he even took it with Havertz being most people’s choice.

Some Gunners fans were already critical of him after he seemed to be in a huff a few games back for not getting a regular start despite his excellent impact from the bench.

However, his sending off in the league for needlessly kicking the ball away as well as his dreadful back pass which helped Saliba get into a muddle resulting in a red card and another loss for The Gunners, showed a player on somewhat of a nightmare run.

A 4/10 may be harsh but it comes after a succession of mistakes which he will hopefully not let turn into a downward spiral of form.

Ben White 5 – He looked uncertain tonight and was subbed at the break.

Gabriel Jesus 5 – Needs a run in the team in order to get his touch back. Sometimes a joy to watch while other times quite frustrating to see him lost possession and fail to make a good enough impact. Still a quality player if he can remain injury-free.

William Saliba 6 – Solid performance despite some good counters from the Ukranians.

Gabriel 6 – Similar night to Saliba.

Riccardo Calafiori 6 – Good performance before heading off injured. Could have scored. Hopefully, he will be fit for the Liverpool game at The Emirates.

Declan Rice 6 – Broke up play well on a frustrating night for Arsenal’s midfield.

Kai Havertz 7 – Solid performance again, working very hard and almost scoring yet again at home. Many believed he should have taken the penalty instead of Trossard.

Gabriel Martinelli 8 – Tried his best tonight. Positive attacking play, as well as some good backtracking in defence. Could have been on the scoresheet which would have really boosted his confidence after some significant criticism of late.

Thomas Partey 8 – Almost faultless performance from the defensive midfielder. Didn’t really put a foot wrong.

David Raya 8– Another solid performance topped off with a great save near the end to keep all three points for Arsenal.

Substitutes
Mikel Merino 5
Raheem Sterling 5
Myles Lewis-Skelly 6
Jorginho 5

Arsenal look set to continue transforming their hungry young squad from Champions League near misses to an emerging force in the EPL’s elite top three with a £30m signing.

Following the impressive major signings of Jesus, Zinchenko and Vieira, the Gunners are close to landing one of their main summer transfer targets. 

Youri Tielemans is a big target for Arsenal and CBS Sports Golazo’s Ben Jacobs believes that the Belgium international midfielder has made it clear he wants to move to The Emirates Stadium and personal terms have been agreed.

If Jacobs is right and Mikel Arteta gets his man then Arsenal could be close to competing for a top three finish, let alone a Champions League spot, despite the likes of Spurs and Newcastle having strong transfer windows. 

Along with the fact that Tielemans would be a great addition to the squad, the troubles at Chelsea has opened the door to a pack of challengers from the big spenders in the Premier League. 

This is going to be a superb season in the EPL as the best league in the world gets even stronger and I believe with signings like this, Arsenal will be right up there in the mix for a great challenge. 

Despite leaving the club well before the time that Mikel Arteta took charge of Arsenal, club legends Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas are still proving that they have pulling power for the greatest club in the land.

After signing for Arsenal from Manchester City, lifelong Gunners fan Oleksandr Zinchenko revealed that the likes of Henry and Fabregas drew him to support the club and eventually choose to sign a deal at The Emirates Stadium.

Speaking on Arsenal Player, Zinchenko said: “I would like to say that this is a boyhood dream come true, because I was a massive fan when I was a kid, since Thierry Henry and young Cesc Fabregas were playing here I enjoyed watching the Arsenal games, and that’s why I started to love this club.”

When asked about him being photographed as a kid wearing a Gunners shirt he said: “I’m so excited, and I cannot wait until I can play for this amazing club.

“I remember that was in Donetsk when I was at the Shaktar Academy, and since I was a kid, I couldn’t even dream about it. But now Now it’s time to put on the red shirt, so I’m so happy,” added Zinchenko.

I wasn’t overly impressed when I first heard about this signing but after hearing both him and Arteta speak about it, hearing how much he loves Arsenal along with his obvious determination to succeed for the club (not just as an individual) I now think he could be a huge influence in Arsenal’s attempt at a top-four finish to take the club back to where we belong – the Champions League.

Arsenal have made an approach for the versatile Brazilian international box-to-box midfielder Arthus Melo.

According to Tutto Juve, The Gunners are trying to negotiate a deal which could see the former Barcelona player arrive in North London initially on loan with an option to make the move permanent for 30m euros.

The former South American player of the year would be a huge signing for Arsenal as they look to re-establish themselves as one of the giants of English football.

Melo moved to Barcelona from Gremio in Brazil as part of a package worth nearly 40m euros in 2018.

However, the Brazilian midfielder’s value rocketed to a staggering 75m euros when he moved from La Liga to Juve in the summer of 2020.

I think he could be an excellent addition to the Arsenal squad although I’d prefer a pacey winger. Speaking of which, after failing to sign Raphinha, the club must still be looking for a similar player to add to the squad.

Arsenal often keep their transfer business quiet, and I’m getting the feeling that something might be brewing in the transfer market with Arsenal having unfinished business ahead of the new season.

Arteta himself keeps dropping hints still ahead of the pre-season game in the USA: “We’re in the market to keep improving the squad but there are so many parties involved and sometimes things don’t happen as quickly as you want”.

It sounds like Arteta is still hoping for at least one more major signing.

Despite the likes of Spurs and Liverpool signing some exciting talents in the early stages of the transfer window, Gunners fans can be quietly confident that Arteta’s plans for his Arsenal project are slowly but surely taking shape.

The most successful EPL club in North London have already spent over £86m since the transfer window opened bringing in some absolute quality in the form of Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira as well as some interesting future potential in Marquinhos and Matt Turner.

Players	Club	Transfer Cost
Gabriel Jesus	Manchester City	£47m
Fabio Vieira	Porto (Portugal)	£31m
Matt Turner	New England (USA)	£5.5m
Marquinhos	Sao Paulo (Brazil)	£3m

According to reports from Goal Brazil, Arsenal’s technical director and former player Edu is ready to start negotiations for Brazilian international midfielder Lucas Paqueta.

However, the Lyon ace will come at a very high price as the French outfit will be looking for a staggering 80m Euros for one of their prized assets.

Edu, is reportedly ready to start negotiations with Lyon for the former AC Milan player and should he succeed in this signing then it will be a serious statement of intent by The Gunners in their bid to establish themselves once more as a regular Champions League team.

Newcastle have also been linked with the player but Arsenal’s Brazilian contingent both on and off the pitch could really help to sway the player in choosing North London should a deal be possible.

Lyon paid 20m Euros for Paqueta so quadrupling their investment would be great business for the team who recently signed Alexandre Lacazette after his contract at Arsenal expired.

Exciting times for Arsenal although we still really need some backup in defence. Hopefully, there will be more to come from Edu and Arteta in the current transfer window.

Ahead of what will be surely the most competitive EPL season with Newcastle, Spurs, Man Utd and Chelsea all aiming to claim Champions League spots along with bookies favourites Liverpool and Man City, Arsenal need to make some really big moves in the transfer market to avoid the capitulation of last season.

Quite simply, we need a deeper and stronger squad after injuries, and a lack of quality replacements led to Spurs grabbing the last Champions League spot just weeks after The Gunners looked certain to finish fourth.

Arsenal have offered £6.4 million for Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo after entering negotiations with the Portuguese club.

The 26-year-old has become the latest summer target for Mikel Arteta, who is looking for more back-up for Kieran Tierney who has been troubled by injuries since his move to the North London club.

The Arsenal boss is adamant that he needs more strength and depth in his squad following an injury-hit end to the season which saw Arsenal narrowly miss out on a Champions Lague place to their bitter rivals Spurs.

Arteta’s number one choice of new defenders is Lisandro Martinez from Ajax, but he faces stiff competition from Man United, and the transfer is seemingly less likely.

If Arsenal believe they are genuinely losing the race to sign the Argentinean then working on getting a player like Grimaldo into the squad as soon as possible looks like a sensible strategy.

Grimaldo has spent time at Barcelona, so the Spaniard certainly has some pedigree. Do you think he could be a good player for Arsenal? Let us know in the comments below.

Matteo Guendouzi, the hardworking young Arsenal midfielder, has reportedly joined Marseille for £9 million after a successful loan stint with the French club.

Last season, Guendouzi, who is 23 years old, played in all of Marseille’s matches and also made his debut for the French national team.

The move became permanent when the club used a clause in the player’s contract.

Guendouzi played for Arsenal 82 times, but he hasn’t featured for The Gunners since June 2020.

The Frenchman put in some good performances for Arsenal and always seemed to play with passion, although he sometimes looked like he could lose his composure in certain situations.

The news came out on the same day that Jorge Sampaoli left his job as manager of Marseille.

This is good business for Arsenal as they seek to generate more income as they look to add some big money signings to their squad ahead of the new season.