Arsenal Receive Injury Boost Ahead of North London Derby

Arsenal may welcome several important players back into the fold ahead of their showdown with Tottenham, after Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli were all seen with the travelling squad on Saturday morning. The group was photographed leaving the team hotel for a light walk as they continued preparations for Sunday’s north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

The presence of the quartet is a significant boost for Mikel Arteta, who has been forced to juggle his starting XI in recent weeks due to a growing injury list. Notably absent from the morning stroll, however, were Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz, who remain doubts for the match.

Calafiori’s inclusion is particularly positive for Arsenal. The defender had withdrawn from Italy’s squad last week after suffering a hip problem, and he had not taken part in full training leading into the weekend. His return to the group suggests progress in his recovery, although his match readiness is still unclear.

Odegaard’s situation has also encouraged optimism. The club captain has not featured since early October due to a recurrence of a long-standing issue, while Madueke has been sidelined since September and Martinelli has similarly been out since October. Seeing all three reintegrated with the squad is a sign they could be edging closer to match fitness.

Arteta addressed the injury situation during his press conference on Friday, explaining that the international break was used intensively to accelerate the players’ recoveries.

We put a lot of energy into getting them back as quickly as possible,” he said. “We have one more session before we decide. We need to see whether it’s too soon for some of them or if they can play a part.

Despite the cautious tone, Arteta noted that the returning stars are entering the final phase of their rehabilitation, which includes contact training and unpredictable movement key indicators of readiness for Premier League action.

I think they will be with us very soon,” he added. “Whether Sunday is too early, we will know tomorrow.

Arsenal will hope to have as many of them available as possible as they prepare for one of the most important fixtures of their season.