Arsenalin loukkaantumistilanne Arteta paljastaa Sakan Saliban Whiten ja Havertzin paluuaikataulut ennen Nottingham Forest ottelua

If you’re an Arsenal fan, the international break can feel like a tense waiting game — will players return unscathed, or will there be new setbacks? This time, relief sweeps North London: no fresh injuries to report. Still, several big names remain on the recovery list, and Mikel Arteta has now given a rare, detailed update ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Nottingham Forest.

The players in question

Bukayo Saka

The spotlight inevitably falls on Arsenal’s brightest star. After hobbling off with a hamstring issue against Leeds, Saka’s progress is steady. Yet Arteta made it clear that a return hinges entirely on medical clearance, not risk-taking. Arsenal know better than to gamble with their most dangerous attacker.

William Saliba

The Frenchman endured an ankle scare that forced him out during the warm-up against Liverpool. Encouragingly, Saliba is already back in training, with whispers that his return could happen sooner rather than later. A late fitness test will provide the final word before the Forest clash.

Ben White

Here’s the genuine boost: White, who has been sidelined since the opening day with a knee problem, has been declared fully fit. Arteta confirmed he’s available for selection and back in the squad.

Kai Havertz

For Havertz, patience remains essential. Having undergone knee surgery earlier in the season, his recovery is remarkably ahead of schedule. He’s testing his knee in training, but Arteta expects weeks — possibly a month — before fans see him contesting matches again.

Why it matters so much

These aren’t just squad options — they’re core pillars in Arsenal’s title chase:

• Saka is the heartbeat of the attack, his creativity on the wing difficult to replace.
• White and Saliba form one of the league’s most reliable defensive partnerships, crucial for both solidity and building possession from the back.
• Havertz, though divisive, offers variety in midfield rotations during heavy Premier League and Champions League periods.

With such names in the balance, Arteta faces a tricky conundrum — how to rotate smartly, adjust tactics, and rely on younger talents when necessary.

Arteta’s message to the fans

The mood from the manager was cautiously upbeat. White is fit. Saliba is closing in. Saka is handled with extreme care. Havertz? Still a little way to go, with late October or early November the likeliest return window. Above all, Arteta stressed that injuries ebb and flow across a season, and the key is to maintain momentum without dropping vital points.

What’s next?

Forest await next — not ideal opponents, with their pressing game built on unrelenting energy. Beyond that, Arsenal face a squeeze of fixtures in both the Premier League and Champions League, testing squad depth to its core. Whether Arsenal can cover for Saka short-term, should recovery linger, could prove decisive.

The bottom line

The update leans far more encouraging than concerning:

1. White is fully fit.
2. Saliba may return imminently.
3. Saka is progressing, cautiously managed.
4. Havertz remains weeks away but ahead of schedule.

If the timelines hold true, Arsenal could soon be back at near-full strength right as the season enters its most demanding run. Until then, Arteta’s job is brutally simple: manage the squad cleverly, cling to the top, and unleash a fully loaded squad when the stage is set.

👉 With White back but Saka uncertain, do Arsenal currently have the depth to stay top — or could these very weeks define their season?