Arsenal take on Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, and Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update ahead of the clash.
The Gunners snatched a win away at Sporting CP on Tuesday night, with Kai Havertz’s 91st-minute winner putting them in a strong position to progress into the last four of the Champions League. A double remains on the cards for the North Londoners, and they have the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the league to 12 points when they host Bournemouth.
Manchester City don’t play until Sunday, when Pep Guardiola’s side visit Chelsea, and Arsenal subsequently have the chance to place enormous psychological pressure on their title rivals before their match at Stamford Bridge even kicks off. Paul Merson thinks the title race could essentially be over this weekend, although overcoming Bournemouth may be more difficult in reality for Arteta’s men than it seems on paper.
Mikel Arteta provides Martin Odegaard injury update
While Arsenal should be capable of beating the Cherries on home soil, Arteta’s squad come into this game in poor health. Several players are potentially set to miss the encounter through injury.
Martin Odegaard sustained a knock in Lisbon and was replaced by Havertz with 20 minutes left to play. The playmaker wasn’t spotted in training on Thursday, raising alarm bells amongst Gunners supporters about his potential availability for Saturday.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken then confirmed that Odegaard is indeed injured, although he expects the player to return ‘before long’.
Ståle Solbakken (Norway manager) on Ødegaard’s injury: “A small setback. I think he’ll be back on the pitch before long.” ❌🇳🇴 [@EirikNH] pic.twitter.com/cRVoMGWZJ5
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) April 9, 2026
Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Arteta provided a bit of clarity on his captain’s injury status, although he remained somewhat coy.
“Yeah, there have been changes since yesterday,” he said when asked about Odegaard.
Odegaard has already been injured on four separate occasions this season and has amassed just over 1,000 league minutes. This lack of availability is starting to prompt questions about his future in North London beyond this season.
Mikel Arteta provides substantial Arsenal injury update
Odegaard isn’t the only Gunners star whose potential involvement against Bournemouth is in jeopardy. Arsenal have an extensive list of doubts, some of whom were addressed by Arteta in his press conference on Friday.
Jurrien Timber hasn’t featured since being taken off during the Gunners’ game against Everton in mid-March, while Bukayo Saka hasn’t featured since the Carabao Cup final.
Meanwhile, Piero Hincapie has been absent since sustaining an injury while playing for Ecuador over the international break. Eberechi Eze returned to training this week following his setback, while Riccardo Calafiori wasn’t spotted in Arsenal’s session at London Colney on Thursday.
“I don’t know, some of them,” Arteta said when asked which of these players will be available.
On Eze, the manager said: “He is available. My first conversation with him after felt that niggle he wanted to be available the next week. That was not possible. The recovery, the way he has shown to get back, the way he has pushed.”
A typically mysterious response from Arteta, who likes to keep his cards close to his chest regarding injury updates. It’s likely that at least one or two of these players will be in contention.
