Arsenal injury list: Players out, potential return dates, predicted lineup for next game vs. Bournemouth originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Arsenal remain top of the Premier League table as they head into a potentially testing run of January fixtures.
Mikel Arteta's side maintained their lead over Manchester City across Christmas, and put some distance between themselves and Aston Villa with a win over the third-place side to end 2025.
A crunch clash with Unai Emery's side — who beat them in dramatic fashion at Villa Park earlier this month — is on the horizon, and Mikel Arteta still has a number of injury concerns in defence.
Here is how their injury list looks, when they can expect players to return, and what their predicted lineup looks like for their next game.
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Arsenal injury list
Below is the latest injury picture for Arsenal, and estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.
Gabriel
- Injury: Undisclosed
- Expected return date: TBD
Gabriel started against Aston Villa in the final match of 2025, marking his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury with a goal, but questions about his fitness remain after he was withdrawn with 15 minutes to go.
It didn't look terribly serious, but the Brazilian needed treatment with 15 minutes to go, raising concerns of his full fitness. More information from Mikel Arteta will be needed to confirm his status moving forward. For what it's worth, the defender didn't seem concerned in his post-match television interview.
Declan Rice
- Injury: Knee
- Expected return date: January
Declan Rice was forced to play right-back against Brighton, and picked up a kick to his knee in the process despite completing the full 90 minutes. A few hours before kickoff reports indicated he would miss the ensuing game against Aston Villa.
After lineups were confirmed and Rice's absence solidified, Arteta said they hoped it would be "short-term" but they were still waiting for "the swelling to come down" so he can "start to function."
Riccardo Calafiori
- Injury: Muscle (undisclosed)
- Expected return date: December 30
Calafiori pulled out of the Brighton game during the warm-up. Arteta said the Italy defender "felt something very awkward" in training.
The fact that Calafiori was given the chance to prove his fitness immediately prior to that match suggests the problem is not too serious. He missed the ensuing game against Aston Villa.
Cristhian Mosquera
- Injury: Ankle
- Expected return date: January/February
Mosquera is also part of a bleak defensive picture for Arteta, who was boosted by Gabriel and Piero Hincapie returning against Brighton.
The former Valencia man suffered an ankle injury in early December and will remain on the sidelines into the new year
Max Dowman
- Injury: Ankle
- Expected return date: January
Shuttled back and forth between Arsenal's first team and the U-21 side, Max Dowman picked up an ankle injury in the youth team's victory over Manchester United in early December.
While there was little concrete immediate information available on the extent of the injury, Arteta said in typical Arteta fashion that Dowman would be unavailable for "weeks."
Kai Havertz
- Injury: Knee
- Expected return date: January
Havertz had a minor operation after damaging his knee in the opening win over Manchester United. Arteta is eager not to rush him back as the manager wants to keep the player fully fit for as long as possible.
After the November international break was the initial target for his return, but while still sidelined in early December, Arteta confirmed that the German had suffered a setback in his recovery. "A matter of weeks" Arteta said for his impending return, and said "I don't know" when asked when Havertz could be seen again on the pitch.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Bournemouth
With the continued struggles of Viktor Gyokeres up front, there will be growing calls for Gabriel Jesus to get a chance at the No. 9 role, especially after his goal off the bench against Aston Villa.
There are also multiple options for the left wing position, with Mikel Arteta giving each of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Martinelli time in the role over the past few weeks.
Here is the projected starting lineup for when Arsenal host Bournemouth to begin 2026.
Formation: 4-3-3
Raya (GK)
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino
Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Arsenal fixture schedule: Next five games
Arsenal have two more league games before the FA Cup third-round match at Portsmouth. Then comes the first leg of a Carabao Cup semifinal at Chelsea.
The Gunners have five of their next six matches on the road, including four in a row across four different competitions, culminating with a visit to Italy to meet Inter Milan in Champions League play on January 20.
- Bournemouth vs. Arsenal | Premier League | Saturday, January 3
- Arsenal vs. Liverpool | Premier League | Thursday, January 8
- Portsmouth vs. Arsenal | FA Cup (3rd round) | Sunday, January 11
- Chelsea vs. Arsenal | Carabao Cup (semifinal) | Wednesday, January 14
- Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal | Premier League | Saturday, January 17