Arsenal Injury Round-Up And Expected Return Dates For Smith Rowe And Vieira

   

Arsenal Injury Round-Up And Expected Return Dates For Smith Rowe And Vieira

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The Gunners welcomed back Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu to the matchday squad against Crystal Palace last week, but there are still two players who are nursing injuries.

Arsenal began their 2022/23 Premier League campaign in perfect style with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on the opening day, as new signings Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus got a chance to shine, while defenders Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu were welcomed back from injury.

Another plus was that there were no fresh injury concerns following that victory at Selhurst Park, although Mikel Arteta was still without midfield duo Emile Smith Rowe and summer signing Fabio Vieira, who are hoping to return for the visit of Leicester City this weekend.

Here is all you need to know about the current state of play at the Emirates Stadium and the expected return dates for those out on the sidelines.

Emile Smith Rowe

Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe was forced to miss out his side’s first game of the season away to Crystal Palace last Friday as he continues to struggle with a groin injury that he picked up during pre-season, but will be hoping to finally make a return this weekend.

The 22-year-old hasn’t featured for the Gunners since starting in the 5-3 defeat of FC Nurnberg on July 8 in pre-season, and speaking on July 17, Arteta said that Smith Rowe was struggling with “a muscular niggle, but it’s a matter of days [until he returns to training].”

And last Thursday, Arteta hinted that he may have returned to first team training ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park.

He said: “Three out of four of those players [Tomiyasu, Smith Rowe, Tierney, Vieira] are going to be training this afternoon and if everything goes well, they will be available for selection and in the squad.”

If Smith Rowe was indeed the third player who returned to training, after Tierney and Tomiyasu, then it is hoped that he will finally make a return to the squad this weekend, although an update from Arteta on his fitness is expected closer to the match.

Fabio Vieira

Midfielder Fabio Vieira failed to recover from his foot injury in time to feature in Arsenal’s opening day win over Crystal Palace but there may be a chance that he could get back to full fitness for the visit of Leicester this weekend as he eyes his debut for the club.

Vieira became Arsenal’s third signing of the summer after sealing a £34.26 million move from Porto on June 21, although the 22-year-old has been injured ever since and was unable to play a single game for the Gunners during pre-season.

Vieira has been struggling with a foot injury that he sustained while on international duty with Portugal’s under-21’s back in June and is yet to make a full recovery. The attacking midfielder remains a doubt for Saturday, but a place on the bench remains a possibility.

The last update from Arteta on Vieira came on July 24, when he said: “Fabio probably a little bit longer. I think he needs another week or so before he starts with the team, but he’s been working hard.” An update on the midfielder is expected to come this week.