Arsenal are set to begin their Premier League title defence in August, but growing concerns over the fitness of several key players could complicate their preparations.

The Gunners may be heading into an injury crisis as they prepare to defend a league crown for the first time in club history.

Mathematically, Arsenal secured the 2025/26 Premier League title just days before the final matchday, after enduring a demanding campaign of 63 fixtures across four competitions, including appearances in two finals and a quarter-final in the FA Cup.

Throughout this period, Mikel Arteta’s side battled significant injury issues, which could extend into the upcoming season as the manager aims to sustain their momentum.

It was a particularly testing 2024/25 season for Arteta, as his squad was severely depleted, with multiple players requiring surgery – among them Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus.

To manage the heavy workload across four competitions, Arsenal added eight new signings to strengthen their depth last summer. The strategy paid off as the reinforced squad helped them lift the league title. However, injuries persisted, sidelining players like Saka, Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, and Mikel Merino for extended spells. Others, including Eberechi Eze, William Saliba, Gabriel, and Piero Hincapie, also suffered setbacks at key moments during the campaign.

With 16 Arsenal players initially called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup – before Timber’s withdrawal – many of the squad are getting little rest this summer.

Timber, who featured in the Champions League, was ruled out of the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign before it began due to a groin injury that had kept him out since March. Meanwhile, both Saka and Declan Rice were selected for England, and each has admitted to managing injuries during the second half of the club season. Given their importance for both club and country, rest time will be limited before the Premier League resumes in August, particularly if England advance deep into the tournament.

Saliba has also been a doubt throughout the World Cup with a back problem, prompting France to rest him against Norway. He is expected to continue with the national team as the competition progresses. Hincapie, meanwhile, is set to make his fifth appearance of the tournament for Ecuador against Mexico after recovering from a knock sustained versus Germany.

Odegaard and Havertz have regained fitness to feature in North America following several minor injuries that disrupted their rhythm, while Ben White’s knee injury ended his season early and ruled him out of World Cup contention.

Although officially only Timber and White are currently sidelined, the broader concern lies in the overall physical state of the squad.

Over the last three seasons, Arsenal have played 52, 58, and 63 matches respectively, with less rotation than some rivals. The toll on key players has been evident: White, for instance, played through pain to replace Timber after his ACL injury in 2023, while Saka set a club record by making 83 consecutive appearances before the arrival of Noni Madueke as his understudy.

In February 2025, Arteta described Havertz as a “genetic powerhouse,” saying, “his robustness, his availability is unbelievable,” amid concerns of fixture congestion. Ironically, just days later, the German sustained a hamstring injury and has not managed a consistent run of full 90-minute appearances since.

Earlier this month, Arsenal parted ways with their head of sports medicine, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, in what appeared to be an effort to address their ongoing injury troubles over recent seasons.

There could also be several new additions to the squad this summer. Reports suggest Arteta is targeting reinforcements in defence, midfield, and attack as part of another refresh at the Emirates.

However, with Martin Zubimendi showing signs of fatigue at the end of the season, and Saliba, Hincapie, Rice, and Saka all potentially carrying knocks into the new campaign, while Odegaard and Havertz are yet to regain peak form and both senior right-backs remain injured, Arsenal might face a selection challenge when they visit Coventry City for the season opener.