Injury Crisis Forces Arteta's Hand: Four Crucial Changes Arsenal Must Make for Premier League Comeback

The lengthy international break has given Mikel Arteta considerable time to reflect on Arsenal's heavy defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sept. 19.

It had been a near-flawless start to the Gunners' title defense, with those who predicted Arteta's side would cruise to retaining their crown feeling rather vindicated after a hard-fought 2–0 win at Sunderland kept a perfect record in the Premier League through four matches.

But Brighton's dismantling of the champions exposed a vulnerability that few had anticipated. In one swift moment, Arsenal's quality was called into question. The most anxious supporters suddenly worried that not enough had been done during the summer to fend off the challenges of their unpredictable rivals.

"This can't happen again," Arteta declared after the game, and the Spaniard, who recently penned a contract extension with the Gunners that makes him the highest-earning manager in the league, has plenty of chances to make amends before the next international window.

However, Arsenal's bid to shake off the haunting memories of that Seagulls defeat will be complicated by a number of injury concerns. The break has not been favorable for the Gunners, and Arteta will be compelled to make several changes to his lineup when Leeds United come to Emirates Stadium this Saturday.

Arsenal's Injury List After International Break

Arsenal went into the break with William Saliba already facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to a back complaint, while Ben White had picked up a groin injury during the win at Sunderland. Thomas Tuchel lamented the right back's absence and then had to contend with Declan Rice being ruled out of England's first four 2026–27 UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Rice has been managing neural discomfort in his hamstring throughout 2026. After featuring in all but one of the Three Lions' World Cup games in the summer following a 55-match campaign with Arsenal, workload management is being prioritized at the beginning of the new season.

The midfielder spent a significant portion of the break in Dubai and is expected to be available for Leeds' visit on Saturday. White should also return to action after he was spotted in training photographs last week.

Then come the casualties.

Kai Havertz and Christos Tzolis both picked up hamstring injuries while representing Germany and Greece, respectively. Encouraging updates have followed their scans, but the duo are expected to miss the next few weeks. Returns could be possible before the close of October.

Ezri Konsa was also forced to leave the England camp after picking up a dead leg. The problem is not severe, and the defender may be fit this weekend. Meanwhile, Arteta could have Cristhian Mosquera available for the first time since Matchday 2. The Spanish center back has recovered from a hamstring issue sustained in August.

Young talent Max Dowman featured for England's U-19s during the break, receiving a red card in their win over the U.S. Dowman missed the final game against Belgium after picking up a contact injury, but the problem is unlikely to keep him out this weekend.

How Mikel Arteta Can Replace Potential Absentees

Arteta believed that the breadth of his squad would enable his team to compete strongly across multiple competitions last season, and he was absolutely right. After clinching a first Premier League title in 22 years, Arsenal pushed Paris Saint-Germain all the way in the Champions League final before falling in a penalty shootout.

And while no marquee attacking addition was made in the summer, the club completed a major midfield coup in signing Bruno Guimarães and further strengthened defensively with the acquisition of Konsa. If any club is equipped to handle a string of injury setbacks, it is Arteta's Arsenal.

Nevertheless, Arsenal's under-scrutiny attack will be weakened by the absences of Havertz and Tzolis. While Bukayo Saka came through the break unharmed, Arteta will likely turn to Viktor Gyökeres to fill in for Havertz centrally and will be forced to find an imperfect solution on the left.

With Gabriel Martinelli having departed for Saudi Arabia and Vinícius Júnior committing his future to Real Madrid, Arteta has few alternatives behind Tzolis. Eberechi Eze has been deployed there with limited success since joining the club, while Noni Madueke predominantly operates from the right but could provide a direct, pacey option on the opposite side.

In defense, Arteta won't hesitate to pair Mosquera alongside Gabriel if Konsa fails to recover in time. White can also share duties with Jurriën Timber at right back.

Timber's playing time is being carefully monitored by both Arsenal and the Dutch national team following groin surgery he underwent in the summer.

How Arsenal Will Line Up After International Break

Given their current injury situation, Arteta will likely be forced into four changes from the side beaten at Brighton when a formidable Leeds team arrive in north London this weekend.

While Rice should be fit to line up alongside Guimarães, who traveled to Australia and India during the break, in midfield, fans will head into Saturday's fixture with concerns about their expected attack.

Saka is still finding his rhythm this season; Gyökeres had been handed just 207 minutes across all competitions before the break, and Eze rarely looks at ease on the left. That said, Gyökeres at least returns to London Colney having netted four goals in four games for Sweden during the break.

The powerful center forward will face a stern test from a disciplined Leeds defense that has conceded the joint-fewest goals (three) and the fifth-lowest xG (6.46) in the top flight through five matches. Should Tarik Muharemović & Co. keep the Swede quiet, Mikel Merino waits in the wings.

Data from Opta.