The latest Arsenal injury news ahead of the Gunners hosting Chelsea in the Premier League on Tuesday as Mikel Arteta gives an update on the fitness of Jurrien Timber.

Mauricio Pochettino will bring his Blues side over from west to north London for a midweek derby. The Premier League had to postpone their match scheduled for March 16 as Chelsea reached the FA Cup quarter-finals. So, Arsenal will now try to put on a show under the lights.

Arsenal can also improve their spot at the top of the table with any points against Chelsea. A 2-0 win away to Wolves last Saturday returned the Gunners to first place. But they have now played a match more than Manchester City, who are not in action again until Thursday night.

Arsenal injury list ahead of hosting Chelsea

Beating Wolves was vital for Arsenal, nonetheless, after a taxing week in north London. They fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa which gave Manchester City control of the Premier League title race. Bayern Munich also beat Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Their trip to Chelsea in October was not without issues for Arsenal, either. Declan Rice (77’) and Leandro Trossard (84’) rescued the Gunners a draw at Stamford Bridge after falling 2-0 behind. Cole Palmer (15’) scored from the penalty spot before Mykhailo Mudryk (48’) fired.

Arteta will have a largely healthy squad when Arsenal host Chelsea, though, as the Gunners have very few injury concerns. But it is also a key week in their season with a north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur to follow on Sunday. So, here is the injury situation at Arsenal.

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Takehiro Tomiyasu injury latest

Arsenal were without Takehiro Tomiyasu at Wolves on Saturday as the 25-year-old sustained an injury at Bayern Munich. He suffered a knock in the Gunners’ Champions League quarter-final tie. So, Arteta confirmed the defender was unavailable at Molineux due to the swelling.

Arteta said before the match: “He had a knock in the game [at Bayern Munich] and he had a bit of swelling, and he wasn’t fit to play this game [against Wolves].”

Tomiyasu could return from his injury when Arsenal host Chelsea. But Arteta did not address the Japan international’s fitness during his pre-game press conference on Monday. Tomiyasu has also only played 167 minutes so far in 2024 after suffering a calf injury at the Asian Cup.

Expected return: Chelsea (April 23)

Bukayo Saka injury latest

Bukayo Saka once again played the full game as Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday. But he also once again ended the day having hobbled during the second half of another gruelling outing. The 22-year-old continues to take regular knocks after a wealth of robust challenges.

Arteta has not suggested that Saka is feeling the effects of a likely injury ahead of Arsenal hosting Chelsea, though. But the winger has visibly struggled for fitness at times since he sat out the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Luton Town with a muscular injury sustained from a knock.

The injury that Saka suffered away to Manchester City also followed the winger withdrawing from the England team this March. Yet only during his goalscoring return at Brighton & Hove Albion has Arteta substituted Saka since. He is also due to start against Chelsea on Tuesday.

Expected return: Chelsea (April 23)

Jurrien Timber injury latest

Netherlands defender Timber made his return from an ACL injury when Arsenal’s Under-21s visited Blackburn Rovers on Monday night. The Gunners’ medical staff will now check on the 22-year-old’s fitness and decide if Timber can return to a Premier League squad this Sunday.

Arteta has ruled Timber out of Arsenal’s game with Chelsea but is open-minded to awarding him a role in some fashion against Tottenham. The Spaniard is also hopeful of seeing his star summer signing help Arsenal in their run-in after seven months out of action through injury.

“That’s a quick step,” Arteta said during his pre-Chelsea press conference on Monday. “Let’s see how he feels today. He’s been training really good.

“He looks ready [but] he needs that exposure and after that, we’ll assess whether that game comes at the right time or too fast. We’ll try to get him with us for the final games.”

Expected return: April/May 2024