Team news: Arsenal confirm fresh injury blow plus updates on Tierney, Bellerin & more

Arsenal have provided a full team news and injury update ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.

The medical team have revealed a fresh concern as Granit Xhaka is a doubt for the game this weekend due to bruising on his lower back and leg. The Swiss midfielder will need to be assessed before his availability on Saturday is determined.

Rob Holding has been back in full training after recovering from a serious knee injury and he stepped-up his recovery with another run-out for the U23s earlier this week. However, the defender is unlikely to be available for first team duty just yet as he still needs to build-up his match fitness.

Another of our long-term injury absentees is Hector Bellerin and the full-back is continuing his rehabilitation after suffering an ACL injury back in January of last season. The Spaniard is aiming to be back in full training at some point in October.

Youngster Emile Smith Rowe has been struggling with a niggling groin injury in recent weeks but the midfielder is expected to return to full training in the next fortnight.

Summer signing Kieran Tierney arrived from Celtic with his own groin problem and the Scottish full-back is continuing his treatment with a view to resuming full first team training in October.

The final update from Arsenal regards Dinos Mavropanos and the centre-back is still working his way back to fitness after suffering a set-back in his recovery from a groin injury and he’s also hoping to be in full training in October.

A team news update on Arsenal.com read:

Granit Xhaka
Bruising to lower back and leg. Being assessed ahead of Saturday.

Rob Holding
Left knee. Continuing with on-field rehabilitation and now participating in full training with the first team.

Emile Smith Rowe
Groin. Aiming to participate in full training in 1-2 weeks.

Hector Bellerin
Left knee. Continuing with on-field rehabilitation. Aiming to participate in full training in October.

Kieran Tierney
Groin. Continues to receive treatment and further assessments. Aiming to participate in full training in October.

Dinos Mavropanos
Groin. Continues to receive treatment and further assessments. Aiming to participate in full training in October.

So it looks like a number of Arsenal’s injury absentees are aiming to be back in training in October but we should see Holding back in the first team fold over the next couple of weeks as he steps-up his return from a knee injury.

It doesn’t sound like Xhaka’s issue is another too serious so the midfielder should be available to feature against Burnley this weekend as Unai Emery looks to make it back-to-back wins following our 1-0 victory at Newcastle last weekend.