Arsenal are walking into a difficult weekend, and the warning signs are louder than ever. With Wolves preparing for their Premier League visit, Mikel Arteta may be forced to face the match without as many as eight key players. The biggest surprise came from Declan Rice’s sudden situation, leaving fans worried about the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.
Rice missed the Champions League win against Club Brugge, and many supporters feared the worst. The midfielder has been struggling with a calf issue since the Brentford victory. Although he pushed himself to play in the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, he could not train with the rest of the team this week. He did not travel to Belgium and watched Arsenal win 2-0 from home.
Arteta tried to calm the growing concern by explaining that Rice’s absence was linked to illness inside the camp. His message offered a small sigh of relief. Arteta said, “Let’s see how he goes today, he was ill. Normally in a few days, but let’s see how he gets on.” The manager still hopes the England star will be ready for Saturday.
In Rice’s absence, Mikel Merino stepped into midfield and worked alongside Zubimendi and Odegaard. The trio performed well, but everyone knows Arsenal are stronger and more balanced when Rice is on the pitch.
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But the midfielder is only the beginning of Arteta’s worries. The defence is entering a dangerous moment, with up to five defenders at risk of missing the match.
Jurrien Timber was the next unexpected blow. The Dutch defender travelled with the team to Belgium but was removed from the squad after feeling discomfort from a knock he picked up in the Aston Villa match. Arteta said, “It depends on how he feels today. It was a knock that he picked up and he wasn’t feeling comfortable.”
This uncertainty comes at the worst possible time because William Saliba is also in doubt. The French centre-back suffered an injury before the draw at Chelsea last month and has not played since. Arteta originally suggested Saliba was only “days” away from returning, but he has missed two consecutive matches. Arteta again revealed the slow progress by saying, “We have to wait and see. Yesterday he didn’t train. We have an extra day, let’s see if he can be available.”
Leandro Trossard became the next painful setback. The Belgian attacker did not play in Belgium due to a recurring calf problem. Arteta said, “Leo again picked up another knock in an area where he had the issue, and I don’t expect that it’s going to be long, but unfortunately, he cannot be here.” When asked about his chances for the Wolves match, Arteta again said it was “a matter of days.”
The confirmed absence for the weekend belongs to 15-year-old Max Dowman, one of Arsenal’s most exciting young talents. Dowman suffered an ankle ligament injury during a private friendly against Manchester United. Arteta explained, “With Max, unfortunately, he picked up an injury last weekend, and he had to come off. We did some scans and he is going to be out for weeks.” Gabriel Jesus took his place in the Champions League squad.
In another worrying update, Gabriel Magalhães remains unavailable with an adductor problem he suffered during the international break. Arsenal have missed his physical presence at the back, and there is still no clear return date.
Cristhian Mosquera adds to Arsenal’s defensive headache. The summer signing is expected to be out until next year due to what Arteta called a “complicated” ankle injury. Reports say the layoff may last between six and eight weeks, though the club has not confirmed an exact timeline. Arteta admitted, “He’s going to be out for weeks unfortunately, it’s much more than what we expected. But the player was feeling it, so he’s going to be out for weeks.”
The list of injured players does not stop there. Kai Havertz, who started the season strongly, is still recovering from a knee injury he picked up in August. Arteta said earlier in December that his return was close and “a matter of weeks,” but there have been no fresh updates.
This combination of injuries arrives as Arsenal continue fighting for key positions in the Premier League. Each missing player adds pressure, and every doubtful name increases the stress Arteta must face on matchday. A team that looked strong and deep at the start of the season now finds itself weakened in multiple areas at once.
Fans are now asking the same question: How will Arsenal cope against a Wolves team known for its physicality and counter-attacks? Arteta trusts his squad and their mentality, but he knows that every absence changes the system and reduces stability.
Behind the scenes, the medical team is working nonstop. The priority is to bring back Rice, Trossard, Saliba, Timber, and Havertz without rushing them into further injury risks. Arsenal’s season could depend on how quickly these players recover.
As Saturday approaches, every training session matters. Arsenal still have quality players ready to step in, but the uncertainty around so many stars has created a sense of worry at the Emirates. Supporters will wait anxiously for the final squad announcement, hoping the injury list shrinks instead of grows.
The match against Wolves could become one of the most difficult tests of the season. And the story of whether Arsenal can overcome this crisis may define their momentum for weeks to come.
