Key Points
- Arsenal are facing several injury concerns ahead of their Premier League clash against Brentford on Thursday, February 12, 2026, as they seek to maintain their winning streak.
- Leandro Trossard was forced off late in the win over Sunderland due to an unspecified injury, possibly a calf issue, and is listed as a major doubt for Brentford with a potential return date of February 12.
- Bukayo Saka has been sidelined by a hip injury since pulling out before the Leeds win, missing games against Chelsea and Sunderland; Mikel Arteta stated, “[Saka’s] hip is getting much better. Hopefully very soon he will be with us,” with a possible return against Tottenham on February 22.
- Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s captain, missed recent matches against Chelsea and Sunderland due to a knock or muscular discomfort but is improving; Arteta commented, “Martin again is getting better. It will be a matter of days, we believe,” targeting a return for Brentford on February 12.
- The triple injury boost refers to positive updates on Saka, Odegaard, and potentially others like Jurrien Timber, as revealed by Arteta.
- Mikel Merino underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his foot and faces an extended absence, with uncertain recovery; his father Miguel Merino told Cadena Ser, “Despite the problem, he’s accepting the situation. Injuries never come at a good time… It’s a stress fracture… There are many doubts regarding his recovery.”
- Youngster Max Dowman remains out with ankle ligaments damage from a December Under-21s friendly against Manchester United; Arteta said, “Max hasn’t trained with us so it will still be a few weeks I think,” but he is progressing, with a potential return in late February or March.
- Other ongoing concerns include longer-term absentees, with Arsenal managing a squad stretched by the busy schedule.
(North London News ) February 10, 2026 – Arsenal have received a triple injury boost with positive updates on key players Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Leandro Trossard ahead of their Premier League encounter with Brentford on Thursday, February 12, and the subsequent FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic. Mikel Arteta provided optimistic assessments during his pre-match press conference, hinting at potential returns that could bolster the Gunners’ squad during a congested fixture list. The north London club, currently atop the Premier League standings, are aiming to extend their impressive run across competitions despite the challenges of injuries in a demanding season.
What Happened to Leandro Trossard?
Leandro Trossard sustained an unspecified injury shortly before full-time in Arsenal’s recent victory over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium, forcing him off the pitch after receiving treatment from medical staff. As reported by Sports Mole staff in their injury roundup, Trossard is a doubt for the Brentford clash, with no official severity update provided yet; he is expected to undergo assessment ahead of the away trip. Football.London’s Arsenal correspondent noted early suggestions of a calf problem, emphasising the 31-year-old Belgian’s status as uncertain for Thursday.
In a similar vein, Now Arsenal detailed that Trossard was substituted by Christian Norgaard late in the Sunderland game, raising fresh concerns for Arteta’s side. The Evening Standard highlighted this as a new injury scare, underscoring how such late withdrawals test squad depth during busy periods. Potential return is listed as February 12 against Brentford (A) across multiple outlets, though confirmation awaits.
How Serious is Bukayo Saka’s Hip Injury?
Bukayo Saka has been absent since withdrawing from the starting lineup due to a hip niggle ahead of Arsenal’s 4-0 triumph at Leeds United, subsequently missing the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea and the Sunderland win. Mikel Arteta, quoted by Evening Standard’s Arsenal FC reporter, said of Saka:
“His hip is getting much better. Hopefully very soon he will be with us,”
indicating progress but likely ruling him out for Brentford and the Wigan FA Cup match.
Football.London updated that Saka’s potential return is targeted for the north London derby versus Tottenham on February 22, following further scans on February 4.
This timeline aligns with reports from Now Arsenal, which stress the winger’s importance to the title-chasing side amid their winning streak. Standard Sport noted it as a muscle issue around the hip, not deemed serious, allowing cautious optimism.
Will Martin Odegaard Return for Brentford?
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard featured as a substitute against Leeds but suffered a minor knock in training, sidelining him for the Chelsea and Sunderland fixtures. Arteta provided reassurance in his presser, stating as per Now Arsenal:
“Martin again is getting better. It will be a matter of days, we believe,”
with a possible comeback against Brentford on February 12.
Sports Mole listed Odegaard as a doubt with a knock, far from certain but feasible given the timeline. Football.London echoed Arteta’s “matter of days” prognosis, positioning the midfielder’s fitness as pivotal for the upcoming London derby. Daily Cannon’s injury table corroborates a muscular discomfort from early February, with Brentford as the targeted return.
Who Are the Other Injured Arsenal Players?
Beyond the headline trio, midfielder Mikel Merino faces a prolonged layoff after foot surgery for a stress fracture, as confirmed by Arsenal; his father Miguel Merino told Spanish radio Cadena Ser:
“Despite the problem, he’s accepting the situation. Injuries never come at a good time and a player has to be prepared for whatever comes. It’s tough but we have to look on the bright side. There are much worse injuries than this one. There’s uncertainty because the recovery time isn’t well understood… It’s not an injury to the toes, it’s a bit more internal… There are many doubts regarding his recovery.”
Prospect Max Dowman, who damaged ankle ligaments in a December U21s friendly versus Manchester United, remains sidelined; Arteta updated:
“Max hasn’t trained with us so it will still be a few weeks I think,”
though improvement is noted for a late February return. Historical context from other reports mentions longer-term issues like Gabriel’s thigh injury (weeks away, per Arteta) and Kai Havertz’s knee setback (matter of weeks), but recent focus shifts to the five core concerns: Trossard, Saka, Odegaard, Merino, and Dowman.
What Did Mikel Arteta Say About Injuries?
Mikel Arteta addressed the squad’s fitness in his pre-Sunderland and subsequent press conferences, balancing caution with positivity. On Saka and Odegaard, Evening Standard reported:
“Neither trained on Thursday… Saka picked up a muscle issue, believed to be around his hip… Arteta said: ‘[Saka’s] hip is getting much better. Hopefully very soon he will be with us.’”
For Odegaard, the same source noted a training injury post-Leeds cameo.
Now Arsenal captured Arteta on Trossard implicitly through the doubt status and on Dowman directly. Football.London quoted Arteta on Odegaard: “Martin will be a matter of days,” and on broader recovery efforts amid the top-table push. These statements reflect Arsenal’s strategy of rotation during festive and mid-season congestion, as injuries test even the strongest squads.
How Do Injuries Impact Arsenal’s Brentford Clash?
Arsenal’s trip to Brentford represents a crucial Premier League test, with the Gunners leading the race and needing momentum. Sports Mole previewed potential absences, noting Brentford’s own issues like Fabio Carvalho’s season-ending knee problem and Josh Dasilva’s ACL recovery. Football.London highlighted selection dilemmas for Arteta, including six key calls amid injuries.
The triple boost could see Odegaard and Trossard feature, easing pressure despite Saka’s likely absence. Now Arsenal framed the context:
“Teams leading the race need all hands on deck to maintain momentum,”
underscoring the stakes for the February 12 fixture and beyond. Brentford loan rules sideline Reiss Nelson, adding intrigue to the derby.
What is Arsenal’s Broader Injury Context?
Injuries remain inevitable in a grueling season, as Now Arsenal observed: “Managers must balance rotation with risk to keep key players fit… These challenges often come during busy periods like the festive schedule.” Recent returns like Viktor Gyokeres from muscle strain and Gabriel Jesus bolster depth, per Football.London.
Yet, persistent issues with Merino and prospects like Dowman highlight squad management challenges. Mirror Sport noted Arteta’s updates on four stars previously, including Havertz’s optimistic timeline: “If everything goes well, I think he will be part of the squad in the next few days.” Arsenal’s position at the summit affords resilience, but fitness will define their campaign.
