Arsenal injury update: Christos Tzolis, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice latest news and return dates

It has been a costly international break for the Gunners so far

Arsenal are dealing with some key injury concerns as we head towards the return of the Premier League next weekend.

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.

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.

However, there has been some good news for Mikel Arteta 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.

Here is all the latest Arsenal injury news and return dates before Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium in a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.

Christos Tzolis
Tzolis saw an early goal ruled out for Greece in Thursday night’s Nations League clash with the Netherlands, before quickly suffering a hamstring injury.

He went down and covered his face with his shirt as he received treatment, initially refusing to come off, according to Greece head coach Ivan Jovanovic.

However, Tzolis was replaced in the 18th minute of the match and is said to have undergone a scan in Greece on Friday, before returning to Arsenal.

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.

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.

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.

He too was an early withdrawal and also headed back to Arsenal, having only been named in Jurgen Klopp’s split squad for two of Germany’s four total games across the window.

Havertz has also undergone a scan following further assessment and treatment by the Gunners’ medical staff, with the results yet to become clear.

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.

Declan Rice
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.

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.

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.

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.

Though he avoided surgery, he was expected to be sidelined for a period of months in a huge blow to 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.

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.

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.

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.

However, White avoided any serious injury and was spotted back at Arsenal training last week in the build-up to the visit of Leeds.

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. He too should be available for selection against Leeds.

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.

However, he is now fit again and should also help to bolster Arteta’s defensive options against Leeds.

Potential return date: Saturday October 10, vs Leeds (H)