Arsenal injury update: Saliba, Eze and Timber return timelines

Arsenal injury update following the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City has raised fresh concerns, with William Saliba, Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber all withdrawing from international duty.

Mikel Arteta’s side now enter the international break not only dealing with the psychological impact of another final loss, but also monitoring several key players ahead of a crucial run of fixtures in April 2026.

The most immediate concern centres on William Saliba, who completed the full 90 minutes at Wembley before withdrawing from France duty due to an ankle issue.

The French Football Federation confirmed the defender is dealing with recurring pain that requires at least ten days of rest.

Potential return date: Early April 2026 (subject to recovery)

Eberechi Eze was another notable absentee from the final, having failed to recover from a calf injury sustained against Bayer Leverkusen.

Arteta confirmed further scans would be required to determine the severity of the issue.

"We have to do another scan in six or seven days and wait to see the results."

Potential return date: Mid-April 2026 (pending scan results)

Jurrien Timber has also been ruled out of international duty after failing to recover from an injury sustained earlier this month. The defender has already missed recent matches and is expected to be sidelined for a short period beyond the break.

Potential return date: April 2026

Captain Martin Odegaard remains unavailable with a knee injury and has already missed multiple matches across competitions.

Arteta confirmed he is still “a couple of weeks” away from returning, indicating he could be back shortly after the international break.

Potential return date: April 2026

Mikel Merino is Arsenal’s only confirmed long-term absentee. The midfielder underwent surgery on a foot injury and faces a recovery period measured in months rather than weeks. "We're talking about months… you need to be patient."

Potential return date: June 2026

The timing of these injuries adds further pressure on Arsenal as they prepare for a decisive phase across multiple competitions.

Having followed Arsenal closely this season, defensive stability and midfield control have been key to their strongest performances. Any prolonged absence for players like Saliba or Odegaard could disrupt that balance.

However, it remains too early to determine the full impact, particularly with several players expected to return shortly after the break.

Arsenal will use the international break to assess injuries and monitor recovery progress, with early April fixtures likely to determine which players return first.

Medical updates in the coming days, particularly regarding Eze and Saliba, will be crucial in shaping Arteta’s squad selection.