Arsenal injury update: Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel latest news and return dates

Evening Standard

·7 de abril de 2025

Arsenal injury update: Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel latest news and return dates

Gunners without host of key players for Real Madrid showdown

Arsenal’s season largely rests on this week’s Champions League showdown against Real Madrid.

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Any distant hopes of winning the Premier League title surely faded for good after Arsenal drew 1-1 with Everton on Saturday, with Iliman Ndiaye’s controversial penalty cancelling out Leandro Trossard’s opener.

The Gunners are way off the pace in the Premier League table and must overcome the European champions if they are going to stand a chance of claiming any silverware this season.

Madrid will have Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger available despite their recent punishment from UEFA, with the duo facing a one-game ban if they are found guilty of similar behavouir in the next 12 months following their celebrations after Real beat rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties in the last 16.

As if facing Los Blancos was not hard enough anyway, Mikel Arteta’s side remain without a number of key players for the game at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

Concern was raised when the versatile Mikel Merino was spotted pulling up in the warm-up at Goodison Park.

The Spanish international then required treatment following a clash of heads against the Toffees.

However, Arteta has confirmed Merino is “fine” despite finishing the game wearing a bandage.

“(Merino) is fine, I just checked with the doctor,” revealed Arteta. “He had a cut, so he was bleeding quite a lot in the first half, then he started again, so overall he wasn’t feeling anything.”

Potential return date: Tuesday April 8 vs Real Madrid

Riccardo Calafiori

Riccardo Calafiori’s injury-hit first season as an Arsenal player has continued.

Last month, Calafiori suffered a knee injury while playing for Italy. The defender’s left knee appeared to buckle under him during Italy’s Nations League quarter-final defeat to Germany and he was released from their camp shortly after.

Arteta has confirmed the defender is facing “weeks” out.

Potential return date: Unknown

Gabriel

Arsenal’s rotten luck on the injury front continued last week.

Defender Gabriel Magalhaes has arguably been their standout player this season but will sadly play no further part.

Arsenal have confirmed Gabriel will miss the rest of the season after surgery on a hamstring injury sustained during their win over Fulham.

An Arsenal statement read: “Further to being substituted during our match against Fulham on Tuesday, we can confirm that Gabriel Magalhaes has sustained a hamstring injury which requires surgery.

“Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season.”

Potential return date: Summer 2025

Injured: Arsenal star Kai Havertz

X | @kaihavertz29

Kai Havertz

Like Gabriel, striker Kai Havertz will not play again this season.

Havertz underwent hamstring surgery following an injury during Arsenal’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai at the start of the year.

“The last few days have been tough to process both physically and mentally. But yesterday was a good day. A successful op and a win,” wrote the German on Instagram.

“Thanks for all the messages of support over the last few days, it’s really helped. I’m now focused on my journey to full fitness and giving all the support I can give to the team in the background.”

Potential return date: Summer 2025

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Takehiro Tomiyasu has mustered only six minutes this season, which came way back in October against Southampton.

Injury setbacks have derailed his progress all season and knee surgery in February has ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

Later that month, the Japan international posted an Instagram message reading: “I’ve had a surgery on my knee few days ago and I’ve already started my rehab to do what I love the most again.

“It has been the toughest period in my career for sure and it carries on a bit more but I won’t give up. Thank you for your support and see you again.”

Potential return date: Summer 2025

Gabriel Jesus

Striker Gabriel Jesus is another to have struggled with injury problems throughout his time at Arsenal.

In January, Jesus suffered a serious knee injury and has since undergone surgery. Due to that, his exact return date remains unclear but he’s not expected back for many months.

Potential return date: Late 2025