Two out of three ain’t bad as Arsenal receive double injury

Arsenal have been handed a double injury boost ahead of Saturday’s Emirates Cup battle with Athletic Bilbao, as both Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz were pictured in training on Friday.

The Gunners are aiming to defend the Emirates Cup for the fourth year running this weekend, while simultaneously ending a two-match losing run after successive defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal.

Mikel Arteta oversaw a dampening 3-2 reverse to the latter on Wednesday evening, where Arsenal welcomed Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber back from their long-term hamstring and ankle injuries.

However, all of Havertz, Calafiori and Leandro Trossard were unavailable for the visit of the Yellow Submarine, as the former picked up a fresh knock which allowed Viktor Gyokeres to make his full friendly debut on front.

Meanwhile, Calafiori and Trossard both sustained issues during the Gunners’ pre-season tour of Asia, as the Italian defender hurt himself against Newcastle United while Trossard picked up a problem in the North London derby loss.

Calafiori and Havertz train for Arsenal before Emirates Cup

Havertz and Calafiori back in training.

Images: Arsenal pic.twitter.com/80JHlDCWuX

— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) August 8, 2025

Arteta was asked about the statuses of all three men after the midweek defeat to Villarreal, and he expressed confidence that the trio would be involved in the Gunners’ final friendly of the summer.

The Spaniard may partially get his wish, as Calafiori and Havertz were both pictured in training with the Gunners on Friday, suggesting that they will make swift comebacks at the weekend.

The Italian defender and German attacker should also be fit to face Manchester United in Arsenal’s inaugural Premier League match of the season, but Trossard remains a doubt for that fixture, as he was not seen in practice on Friday.

The Belgium international appeared to tweak his groin against Spurs, and he will almost certainly sit out Saturday’s visit of Athletic, but he has not yet been ruled out of the trip to Old Trafford.

Gabriel Jesus remains the only long-term absentee in Arsenal’s ranks, as the Brazilian is still a few months away from recovering from the ACL injury he sustained in January.

How could Arsenal line up against Athletic Bilbao?

The return of Calafiori gives Arteta a viable option at both left centre-back and left-back, but the Arsenal boss should err on the side of caution with the Italy international given his history of fitness problems.

As a result, either Jakub Kiwior or new signing Cristhian Mosquera could start alongside William Saliba at the back, while Ben White and either Myles Lewis-Skelly or Oleksandr Zinchenko bomb down the flanks.

Arteta could completely rejig his midfield three, though, as Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard may all replace Christian Norgaard, Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri, who has just signed a new long-term contract at the Emirates.

Further forward, a full unofficial debut could await Noni Madueke, potentially on the left-hand side in place of Gabriel Martinelli as Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka reprise their roles.

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