Arsenal have suffered an injury setback ahead of their Premier League meeting with Leeds United, with Mikel Arteta confirming that Christos Tzolis will be sidelined for several weeks.
However, the Gunners have received a potential boost with Declan Rice pushing to return for Saturday’s clash, giving Arteta hope of having one of his most important midfielders available after the international break.
Tzolis, 24, picked up a hamstring injury while representing Greece and returned to Arsenal early for further assessment. The setback means the winger faces a spell on the sidelines as the North London club prepare for a demanding run of domestic and European fixtures.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta confirmed the extent of the injury and provided updates on Rice, Kai Havertz and Ezri Konsa.
“Tzolis has a muscle injury and I think he will be out for a few weeks.
Rice’s availability remains a major talking point for Arsenal, with the England international having withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel’s squad to manage his workload.
The midfielder played extensively last season and continued to feature regularly during the summer World Cup, prompting Arsenal to take a cautious approach to his recovery. With matches coming thick and fast, Arteta is keen to avoid aggravating any existing problems.
“We have to manage him (Rice) because he’s had a few issues since he’s come back from the World Cup. And we know the amount of games he has played in the last three years. It was the sensible thing to do (to withdraw) and hopefully tomorrow he is available.
The Arsenal manager also confirmed that Havertz had suffered a muscular problem, while Konsa had been dealing with fitness concerns. Both players withdrew from their respective international squads after discussions between the relevant parties.
“Kai had a muscular injury, so I spoke to Jurgen (Klopp), and immediately they sent the player back. Ezri has been carrying some issues and we had good communication with England about that.”
With Tzolis unavailable, Eberechi Eze could have an opportunity to make a bigger impact on Arsenal’s left flank. The 28-year-old has yet to start a Premier League match for the club this season but has featured from the bench in four of their five league games.
Eze made an important contribution against Aston Villa, providing the assist for Arsenal’s winner in an away victory. His creativity and ability to operate in wide areas could make him Arteta’s preferred option while Tzolis recovers.
Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka are other alternatives on the left should Arsenal need to rotate during the busy fixture schedule.
There was more encouraging news in defence, where Arteta confirmed that Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White are available for selection.
Their availability is significant after Arsenal experienced a shortage of defensive options before the international break, particularly on the right side. White’s return provides additional cover behind Jurrien Timber at right-back, while Mosquera offers another option across the defensive line.
Max Dowman is also fit and available despite suffering a knock while representing England Under-19s during the international break. The youngster was sent off against the United States but has recovered sufficiently to return to contention.
Beyond the injury updates, Arteta was also asked about Manchester City’s ongoing financial rules case. The Arsenal manager spent three years as an assistant at City before taking charge at the Emirates Stadium.
However, he declined to comment further while the legal process remains unresolved.
“It’s still an ongoing process that is not resolved because it has been appealed,” Arteta said. “My position and the club’s position is not to make any further comments until it’s fully resolved.”
Arsenal host Leeds United on Saturday before turning their attention to the Champions League, with Lille scheduled to visit the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
With Tzolis facing several weeks out, Arteta must find solutions in attack while carefully managing Rice’s fitness. The possible return of the England midfielder, combined with improved defensive options, would provide a timely lift as Arsenal enter another demanding stretch of their campaign.
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