Arsenal are waiting for more medical information on Bukayo Saka, while Chelsea have received a boost ahead of their London derby against Tottenham. The contrasting injury updates could influence both teams’ selections as the Premier League weekend approaches.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Saka will miss Saturday’s match against Everton after the winger was forced off early in the Champions League draw with Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says Malo Gusto is available for the Tottenham fixture, although several other players remain sidelined.

Saka sustained a muscle injury during Arsenal’s match against Bayern Munich in Germany on October 21. He was substituted after approximately 10 minutes, leaving the club to investigate the extent of the problem.

Arteta said further medical scans and specialist opinions were needed before Arsenal could provide a definitive assessment.

“He’s got another MRI this afternoon because he had a lot of fluid,” Arteta said, according to the club’s reported update.

The manager also urged patience while the medical team assesses the injury. Although Saka is unavailable against Everton, his longer-term recovery timeline remains uncertain.
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His absence leaves Arsenal considering alternative attacking options. Ebere Eze replaced him against Bayern and scored, while teenage forward Max Dowman could also receive additional playing time.

For Arsenal supporters, the immediate concern is not only the missed Everton fixture but also how long the winger might remain unavailable. However, it would be premature to predict his return date before the club completes its assessment.

Chelsea have a more encouraging update concerning Malo Gusto, who is available for selection ahead of Saturday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

Alonso confirmed the defender’s availability after Chelsea’s preparations at Cobham. His return gives the manager another option as the club looks to continue its recent winning run.

However, Chelsea will still be without Pep Chavarría and Emmanuel Emegha for the London derby, according to the reported team update.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is also expected to remain out for several weeks after suffering a jaw injury during Chelsea’s 2–0 victory over Everton. He was taken to hospital following the incident and subsequently underwent surgery.

Alonso said Martínez was recovering but stressed that his return would depend on further progress and medical advice.

The goalkeeper’s absence means Chelsea must continue without him while the medical team monitors his recovery. Gusto’s availability offers some positive news, but it does not remove the selection challenges created by the other injuries.

Arsenal and Chelsea face different decisions ahead of their weekend fixtures.

For Arsenal, the main issue is how to manage Saka’s absence while waiting to learn whether the injury will affect subsequent matches. Eze’s performance against Bayern provides an alternative, although one appearance cannot establish how the team will perform over a longer period without Saka.

For Chelsea, Gusto’s availability expands Alonso’s options, but Martínez’s injury leaves the club needing to manage its goalkeeping position. The absences of Chavarría and Emegha also limit the available choices in defence and attack.

These developments matter to supporters preparing for the weekend’s matches and to fantasy football managers considering team selections. However, managers should distinguish confirmed absences from players whose longer-term availability has not yet been established.
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Arsenal are expected to provide more information on Saka once further assessments clarify the severity of his injury. Until then, no firm return date should be assumed.

Chelsea will turn their attention to Tottenham with Gusto available, while Martínez and the other injured players continue their recoveries.

Both clubs will need to balance immediate match-day demands with the need to manage players’ fitness over a long season.

For Arsenal, the key question is how soon Saka can return. For Chelsea, it is whether the available squad can maintain its momentum despite several absences.

Which team do you think will cope better with its injury problems this weekend—Arsenal or Chelsea?