Arsenal kicked off 2025 with confidence, claiming a 3-1 victory against Brentford, but the team later faced challenges, losing key players before drawing 1-1 against Brighton. The Gunners momentarily closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool following their strong start, overcoming an early setback from Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. Gabriel Jesus brought Arsenal level before Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli scored to secure the win. Unfortunately, the victory came with significant costs, as Jurrien Timber was suspended after receiving his fifth booking, and several other key players were absent due to injuries.
During their subsequent match against Brighton, Arsenal's injury woes were palpable. The Gunners were without star player Bukayo Saka, who is sidelined for at least two months with a hamstring injury, along with Raheem Sterling (knee), Ben White (knee), Kai Havertz (illness), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee). The match resulted in another disappointing outing, as Mikel Arteta's side fell short of securing all three points, drawing 1-1 at Falmer Stadium.
The latest injury concern arose with Ethan Nwaneri, who was substituted at half-time against Brighton due to muscular issues. Arteta confirmed post-game, "It’s really bad news because I think we’ve lost him, we had to take him off at half-time with some muscular issues, but let’s see." The 17-year-old winger had been showing great promise, having scored his fifth goal of the season earlier in the match, which misled many to presume he was withdrawn due to concerns over his booking.
Arteta had earlier hoped for Havertz to return from illness after he had ruled himself out of the Brentford game. Despite his optimism, he faced disappointment as Havertz did not feature against Brighton. Discussing Havertz’s situation, he noted, "Kai tried but he was very honest and said 'I cannot even travel, I’m not feeling good at all'.".
Despite key injuries, Arsenal sought to compensate with their remaining squad. The match against Brighton saw Martin Ødegaard initially start on the bench due to illness, but he was called upon alongside Martinelli, both of whom added depth to the Gunners’ attack.
Regarding other injured players, Arteta provided updates on Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu during the week leading up to the games. "Ben is still a few weeks away," Arteta stated concerning White's recovery, offering some cautious optimism about Tomiyasu as well. "He's done some stuff on the pitch but now because it’s been a long-term injury, we need to see how quickly he can progress and how he reacts." The staff remain hopeful for White’s earlier return, with Arteta mentioning, "It might be a possibility but he hasn’t done anything with the team. The knee looks good...hopefully it’s good. His work ethic is unbelievable and naturally, he’s gifted, so I am very positive we’re going to have him quite early, but I don’t know when."
While some players are sidelined, Sterling has been seen back on the training pitch, and Arteta noted, "I think he’s starting to do some stuff on the pitch so that's great news. Let’s see how he progresses this week" as they inch closer to full squad availability.
Looking ahead, Arsenal recognizes the significance of their upcoming fixtures and the depth needed to navigate challenges posed by injuries. The Gunners face Brighton, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Wolves, and Manchester City, highlighting the demanding nature of January's schedule. Arteta concluded, "Now we need to find ways we have to improve. Now we have to be more determined, very courageous, and very ambitious." The team has high aspirations and is working diligently to recover from injuries and return to form after already demonstrating resilience this season.