Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that neither Bukayo Saka nor Gabriel Martinelli will return before the next international break.

The Gunners play four games between now and mid-March. Asked whether either player will be fit again during that period, Arteta replied:

“I don’t think so, no.”

When pressed on whether the first game after the international break against Fulham on April 1st is a realistic return date for the pair, Arteta said:

“I think so, but again, let’s see how they evolve in the next few weeks to make the right steps as well. And then after that, they’ve been out for a long, long time, so we’re going to have to integrate them as well, probably gradually. So they’re evolving well, but they’re still a bit far.”

“We have a meeting tomorrow [Thursday] to discuss where they are, especially Gabi. He has probably a chance before Bukayo to come in, but how soon that is, we’ll have to see how it goes in the next week or ten days.”

What games will Saka and Martinelli miss?

Arsenal are not in action this weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup. Their next match is against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

Arteta’s men then take on Manchester United at Old Trafford before the second leg versus PSV. Chelsea will travel to the Emirates for the last game before the next round of internationals.

Arsenal also have three other injured players

While both Saka and Martinelli are expected to play before the end of the season, that is not the case for the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Gabriel Jesus (ACL) and Kai Havertz (hamstring).

All three have undergone operations and they are aiming to be back in action at the start (or close to the start) of the 2025/26 campaign.

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