Arsenal faces challenges due to recent injuries among key players during international breaks. Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz are currently sidelined, while Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice also experienced issues but have returned to action. Ezri Konsa is out for an unknown duration after leaving the England squad with a knock. Max Dowman, 16, was dismissed in a match and may miss one game before returning on October 10 against Leeds. Tzolis might be out up to three weeks, potentially missing several upcoming matches and could return by October 24 for the Everton game. Havertz’s hamstring issue suggests he will likely be absent for weeks but not months.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
During the recent international break, Arsenal suffered several high-profile player injuries and setbacks. Christos Tzolis is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks due to an unspecified injury, potentially missing games against Leeds, Lille, Nottingham Forest, and Bayern Munich before he could return for the match against Everton on October 24. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz is also currently out of action, though specific return dates are not provided. Additionally, Declan Rice withdrew from the England squad due to load management rather than a new injury; although he has been dealing with long-term neural hamstring pain and other issues since the World Cup. Some positive news includes several Arsenal players returning to training last week, including Martin Odegaard, who quickly recovered from an ankle problem during Norway's matches.
Written for “Arsenal Injury Updates” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
It has been a difficult international break thus far for the Gunners, who have been hit by some high-profile setbacks and other scares involving important players.
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who → hit → players
Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz are both now sidelined, while Martin Odegaard has been battling an issue of his own and Declan Rice withdrew from England duty right at the start of an extended three-week window.
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Rice → sideline → window
However, there has been some good news after a handful of players all returned to training at London Colney last week, while Odegaard quickly recovered from an ankle problem to resume action for Norway.
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Odegaard → return → Norway
Here is all the latest Arsenal injury news and return dates before Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium in a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.
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Leeds → visit → Saturday
Ezri Konsa
Konsa will play no part against the Czech Republic on Tuesday after exiting the England squad on Monday.
The centre-back initially suffered an unspecified knock during the defeat by Spain at Wembley, subsequently sitting out training and remaining an unused substitute for the win over the Czech Republic in Prague.
Konsa returned to play the full 90 minutes of the 7-0 thrashing of Croatia on Saturday, but has since been ruled out of a second meeting with the Czechs and returned to north London for assessment.
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Konsa → play → assessment
Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment
Max Dowman
Max Dowman was forced to withdraw from England’s Under-19s squad over the weekend, with his departure from the camp quietly confirmed a day before the Young Lions s were beaten by Belgium 1-0.
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Lions → pende → Belgium
The 16-year-old had previously appeared in all three of the side’s matches this international break, picking up one goal and one assist in victories over Ireland, Norway and the United States.
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He was dismissed in that match, though, after a reckless challenge.
However, it has been reported that Dowman suffered a contact injury which is not thought to be serious enough to sideline him for a significant period.
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which → appear → period
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)
Christos Tzolis
Early reports claim that the winger could be out for up to three weeks, potentially missing games against Leeds, Lille, Nottingham Forest and Bayern Munich.
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winger → claim → Leeds
Such a timeframe could see Tzolis back in contention for the visit of Everton to north London on October 24, which is followed by a trip to fourth-tier Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup last 16 and showdown with Liverpool at Anfield.
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which → see → Anfield
Potential return date: Saturday October 24, vs Everton (H)
Kai Havertz
A week before Tzolis’ injury, fellow Arsenal forward Havertz had already suffered his own hamstring issue against the Netherlands while playing for Germany in the Nations League.
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Havertz → suffer → League
However, it is thought that he has avoided another serious injury setback and that any absence is likely to last for weeks rather than months.
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absence → think → weeks
Fresh fears over Rice were sparked when he withdrew from the England squad before their Nations League games against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia, along with Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento.
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he → spark → Palmer
However, it is thought that move was as a result of load management rather than any new injury, with Rice having been dealing with some issues including long-term neural hamstring pain that radiated into his lower back and having endured a busy summer at the World Cup when he also battled illness and a calf complaint.
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he → think → illness
He is reported to have been on a break in Dubai and is expected to be fit to start when Arsenal face Leeds on Saturday.
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Arsenal → report → Saturday
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)
William Saliba
Saliba has yet to play for Arsenal this season due to a long-term back injury that he exacerbated while on duty for France at the World Cup finals this summer.
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he → have → finals
Though he avoided surgery, he was expected to be sidelined for a period of months in a huge blow to Arteta.
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he → avoid → Arteta
No new official updates on Saliba have been forthcoming of late, with Arteta previously insisting that his progress has been strong but that he was unsure of an exact timeframe for his return to the pitch.
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he → forthcome → pitch
The most recent reports from France have claimed that Saliba is now running again following a positive scan and is targeting a comeback around November or December.
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Saliba → claim → November
Potential return date: December
Ben White
White was once again unavailable for England selection during this international window after suffering a groin injury during Arsenal’s win at Sunderland on September 12.
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White → suffer → September
The versatile right-back missed the subsequent Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich and woeful 3-0 Premier League defeat by Brighton, with Three Lions boss Tuchel bemoaning his absence.
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)
Piero Hincapie
Hincapie has also been back training with Arsenal after being omitted from the Ecuador squad for friendlies against South Korea, Japan and Panama as the result of a muscle problem.
The defender missed the Carabao Cup win at Ipswich but was back on the bench against Brighton, where he was an unused substitute.
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he → miss → Brighton
Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)
Cristhian Mosquera
The fourth of Arsenal’s previously injured defenders to be seen back in training last week, with the quartet completed by teenager Marli Salmon.
Mosquera has not played at all since sustaining a hamstring problem during the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on August 31.
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Mosquera → injure → August
However, he is now fit again and should also help to bolster Arteta’s defensive options against Leeds.
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he → help → Leeds
The Aporia
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