Arsenal have lost key players to injury all season and manager Mikel Arteta is desperately trying to figure out why as he approaches the finish line.
Mikel Arteta has been plagued by injuries this season (Image: Getty Images)
Manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly invited close allies to find out why Arsenal have been hit by so many injuries this season. The Gunners have had key players in the treatment room all season and could still prove costly in their quest for the Premier League title.
Arsenal will be without Kai Havertz and Julian Timber for Saturday night’s crucial game against Fulham, while captain Martin Odegaard is also a doubt. Arteta’s recent bid to win a first league title in 22 years, while also battling on other fronts, has been hampered by his absence from the squad throughout the season.
Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafioli and Mikel Merino are among the players who have been injured for significant periods this season. In fact, of the 22 outfield players, only Martin Zvimendi and Miles Lewis-Skelly avoided injury during the 2025/26 season.
According to Transfermarkt, Arsenal players have missed a total of 262 games this season. Regardless of whether they lose the title or not, Arteta is keen to gain insight into the matter and has invited Spanish physiotherapist Joaquín Acedo to the club to look into it.
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The Telegraph reports that tensions are rising behind the scenes over Arsenal’s injury record. Arteta is a friend of Acedo, who is based in Cadiz, and was invited last season, and has become a regular at London Colney’s training ground this season.
The problem is evident in the fact that Havertz, who is currently sidelined with a groin problem, was sidelined for four months after injuring his knee on the opening day of the season. The German forward is restricted to 20 appearances in total this season after suffering a hamstring injury sustained in February 2025 that also required surgery and sidelined him for three months.
Asked about Havertz on Friday, Arteta said: “He’s been a big absence. We’re talking about one of our most important attacking players and he’s been out for seven or eight months.”
Kai Havertz has been plagued by injuries (Image: Izzy Poles/AMA)
“Unfortunately, he is not the only player experiencing long-term injury or absence from playing. The team has shown an incredible ability to overcome these types of scenarios and still remain highly competitive.”
Earlier this year, the Arsenal manager touched on the wider issue. “Some of them are long-term acute injuries, especially key players who miss a lot of days,” he said.
“That’s something we’re always looking at. We’ve played a lot of games with a lot of players missing, which creates a lot of stress and creates more injuries. We’re working on that (as a challenge) and I’m really happy with what we’re doing in terms of the medical side and everything we’re trying to do together.”
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