The Standard reports that Arsenal go into the international break with several fitness concerns still unresolved, even as they prepare to face Leeds at the Emirates after a 12-day wait for their next match. The club’s seven-game winning start ended in a 3-0 defeat at Brighton.
Kai Havertz is the most immediate concern in the report. He left Germany duty with what the DFB described as a muscle strain after a Nations League draw with the Netherlands, and Arsenal expect further tests before any clearer availability picture emerges. The paper says there is optimism the problem is not long term, with a possible return listed for the Leeds fixture.
Declan Rice has also withdrawn from England duty, though the report says he is not believed to be carrying a new injury and is being rested at Arsenal. Piero Hincapie was left out of Ecuador’s squad because of injury, according to new manager Marcelo Gallardo, while Ben White and William Saliba are described as possible returners in time for selection against Leeds.
What remains unconfirmed
- Havertz’s exact diagnosis beyond the reported muscle strain.
- Whether Rice is carrying an injury or simply being rested is not fully resolved.
- The exact availability of White, Saliba and Hincapie for Leeds.