Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard: Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Sporting CP clash
Arsenal’s attention will turn away from the Premier League for the first time in over a month when they travel to Portugal to face Sporting CP in the Europa League round of 16.
Mikel Arteta’s side made a sensational comeback against Bournemouth in the league at the weekend but the Spaniard seems to have fresh injury worries.
Eddie Nketiah missed the match with a knockout, while Leandro Trossard was substituted after just 22 minutes. On a positive note, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe both appeared at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday while continuing their recovery from injury, with Nelson being the man of the moment for his late, late winner.
CONTINUE READING: Mikel Arteta’s big Arsenal transfer call was justified as Jorginho handed over a new role in the title race
Gabriel Jesus is also edging towards a long-awaited return, although Arteta could worry about his attacking options in Portugal, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli being the only attackers who are definitely fully fit. Having said that football.london has compiled the latest injury news and expected return dates from north London.
Leandro Trossard
Trossard appeared to take some sort of knock before signaling to the coaching staff that he could not continue and was eventually substituted for Emile Smith Rowe in the 22nd minute.
What Arteta said: “It’s a concern, he came to me straight away and said he couldn’t go on, he felt something when he drove back so we had to undress him,” said the Spaniard when asked what happened to him talented attacker. “We’ll examine him and see how he’s doing.”
Expected return date: N / A
Eddie Nketiah
Eddie Nketiah had found himself on the bench after falling slightly in form in recent wins against Leicester and Everton. Arsenal boss Arteta then confirmed after coming on as a substitute against the Toffees that the young forward had been suffering from minor injury concerns.
What Arteta said: “We’re testing him,” said the Spaniard in his pre-match press conference. “It’s a bit uncertain what’s going to happen to him, to be honest, in the training sessions.
“Let’s see, let’s keep the options open. He is very positive and hopefully he will do well.”
Expected return date: Sporting (A) – March 9th
Jorginho
Jorginho started the aforementioned Everton win ahead of Thomas Partey, despite making way for the former Atletico Madrid man at half-time, with Arteta confirming the Italy international wasn’t feeling 100 per cent after the full-time whistle.
However, he was benched for Saturday’s win against Bournemouth so should be fully fit to start Thursday if required.
What Arteta said: “Jorgis [Jorginho] is good. He had an illness and he put in a great shift, but we decided to wean him off [vs Everton].”
Expected return date: Sporting (A) – March 9th
Emile Smith Rowe
Smith Rowe has been plagued by injuries this season, suffering from a thigh strain earlier this year before returning to the matchday squad against Aston Villa and Leicester without even appearing in either game. However, the talented playmaker played the first 45 minutes as the Gunners Under-21 side took on Chelsea last week.
He then came on for the final ten minutes of the game against Everton midweek before playing the Cherries for nearly an hour, coming on for the injured Leandro Trossard in the 22nd minute and eventually match-winner Reiss Nelson in the second minute Space made half. After the game, Arteteta confirmed that Smith Rowe was fine, the Spaniard just wanted a different dynamic on the left wing.
What Arteta said: “We didn’t plan on throwing him in that early. We knew it was difficult for him to last 70 minutes on the field after being absent for almost five months. But I think he had a good influence, but in the end I felt like we needed something different on the left side because we lacked the threat and were drawing more players to that (left) side. That’s why we decided to sign Reiss.”
Current fitness level: fully fit
Gabriel Jesus
After suffering an inner ligament damage playing for Brazil against Cameroon in the World Cup group stage, Jesus returned to London for knee surgery with the expectation that he would be out of football for at least another month.
Arsenal are hoping to have Jesus back in their first-team squad ahead of the international break at the end of March. football.london understands. The north London team welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium before club action is sidelined for two weeks for internationals.
The Gunners are hoping to have the former Manchester City frontman back in the squad before the players depart with their respective nations.
On Saturday, Jesus was pictured in an Arsenal training kit as celebrations took place around him. The reason later became clear when the 25-year-old took part in warm-up practice on the pitch at Emirates Stadium with the other unused substitutes.
Arteta has now provided a fresh update on his number nine as he moves ever closer to his return.
What Arteta said: “He’s not far away now. I don’t want to give a timeline, but he’s doing certain things with the team, certain things outside of the team. He’s not very close, but he’s not far at all.
“He’s feeling better every day and the doctors are confident with how the injury is developing and I think we’re in a good place with him.”
Expected return date: March.
Mohammed Elneny
Elneny started in the FA Cup win over Oxford United and played the full 90 minutes. However, the Egyptian was absent from Arteta’s squad in the 2-0 win at Tottenham as a knee problem arose in training prior to judging the clash. Also, there was no room on the bench to face Manchester United.
A club statement last month then confirmed that the former Basel native will be out for an extended period, although no timetable was given for his expected return. Elneny has since signed a new contract with Arsenal as he nears a return.
Expected return date: N / A
Pep Guardiola’s concern over Man City omen gives Arsenal a clear Premier League title lead
Arsenal’s next five games in the Premier League compared to title rivals Man City and Man United
Martin Odegaard reacts on Instagram after what he did when Reiss Nelson scored Arsenal’s winner
Trossard, Nketiah, Jesus: Arsenal injury news and expected return dates after Bournemouth clash
Arsenal News & Transfers LIVE: All the news, rumors and gossip from the Emirates Stadium