Mikel Arteta could be without as many as five players when Arsenal host Chelsea in a high-stakes Premier League London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, September 5. The injury worries follow Monday's hard-fought 1-0 win at Aston Villa, where a handful of Gunners left the pitch with knocks.
Arteta said his final selection decisions will depend on what he observes in training on Saturday. Bruno Guimaraes came on as a substitute at Villa Park and picked up a knock during the game. The midfielder is being assessed ahead of Saturday's session, after which a call on his availability will be made, Sports Mole reports.
Arsenal's Injury Concerns Mount
Cristhian Mosquera also went off at Villa Park with a thigh issue, though Arteta indicated the substitution was largely precautionary. Like Guimaraes, his fitness will be clearer after Saturday's training. Declan Rice limped off late in the same match but has since returned to training without being flagged as a serious concern.
Jurrien Timber is also back in full training and described as in good physical shape, though his inclusion against Chelsea will only be confirmed following the final session. The most significant absentee remains William Saliba. Arteta confirmed the France international is recovering but said the club must allow the process to unfold naturally before increasing his workload on the training pitch.
Chelsea Also Dealing with Doubts
Xabi Alonso's side are not without problems of their own. According to Tuko Sports, the Chelsea head coach said a decision on Moises Caicedo's participation will only come after Saturday's training session. Summer signing Marco Palestra is still sidelined, though he recently said he is feeling better as he moves closer to a return.
Jordan Henderson is also expected to miss the match while the club waits for medical clearance before he can return to contention. Both Arsenal and Chelsea arrive at the Emirates with perfect Premier League records. Arsenal beat Coventry 3-0 and won 1-0 at Aston Villa, while Chelsea defeated Fulham 3-2 and Brighton 4-3 under new head coach Alonso.
Title Race Implications
The two sides are level on six points, making Sunday's fixture a potentially decisive early indicator in the title race. Earlier, Legit.ng reported about the upcoming London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, where both teams are eager to maintain their perfect records in the 2026/27 Premier League season.
As both sides grapple with injury concerns, the stakes are raised even higher by the personal friendship between managers Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso, setting the stage for a riveting showdown fraught with emotion and rivalry.
