Arsenal guaranteed to miss nine players vs Leeds with Eberechi Eze update and injury latest

It is that time of the season again. The Premier League has started, the transfer window is still open, and injuries are a problem for managers. Mix all three together for a few weeks and you have Mikel Arteta's worst nightmare.

His Arsenal side started their campaign with the perfect result, if not performance. They beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, not the sort of scoreline that would attract much criticism in years gone by, even if United have never come in from a 15th place finish before.

It was, nevertheless, a winning start. That much cannot be debated. With Liverpool and Manchester City both putting four past their opponents, it was important not to concede any early advantage.

The week since has been as noisy as ever. Arsenal have lost Kai Havertz to injury, something that will rule him out of Saturday's game against Leeds United, whilst Eberechi Eze is now coming in.

Seven days ago, it looked like meaningful arrivals were done at the Emirates Stadium. Now there is a rejig in attack with Arteta planning for life with Eze.

He will not be able to make his debut this weekend having not been registered in time. The deadline was at 12pm on Friday, shortly before Arteta spoke to the press and too close to his medical finishing.

football.london understands that a medical was completed on Friday but Arteta was not keen to talk about someone who was not his player. At least not yet.

"Nothing to comment you know I can never talk about a player that's not part of our group or club yet," he told reporters at a press conference. Smiling as he did so, Arteta added that he was not going to change his stance publicly despite Palace manager Oliver Glasner, and chairman Steve Parish, wishing Eze farewell the night before.

As for Havertz, Arteta was unable to put a timeframe on his return. "Well he's certainly not fit, and we dont really know the extent of it. We need some more time and more tests.

"I prefer not to talk about the specifics. We will decide further about what we're going to do. I don't know, the reality is he's not available for tomorrow."

Arteta added: "Well mentally, he's in a good place. Strong, commited and he had an incredible recovery. Now he's got a setback, let's see how bad it is."

Unfortunately for Arsenal, Arteta was also unsure whether Ben White would be able to make it with Christian Norgaard ruled out too. "Christian won't be in the squad," he explained. "With Ben, let's see how he reacts. Christian will be out for a week or so."

White had to go off in the win over United and has had a torrid past 12 months with injury issues. There was better news for Gabriel Jesus as he recovers from a lengthy lay-off.

"Gabriel is doing super well," Arteta said. "He looks in a really good place. Obviously, it is a massive injury, and he needs to come back in a really strong way, but he is certainly in the right place."

Jurrien Timber is on a reduced schedule, though. "With Jurrien, we have to manage his load because he has been out for a long time and we have decided to take his training down."

These are not the only players that Arteta will be without. There are a group of those up for sale amd without a clear future. The list includes Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Jakub Kiwior.

Arteta did not name any of them in his matchday squad at Old Trafford with added winger cover leaving Nelson sidelined despite having a role in pre-season. Zinchenko has been expected to go since January and is now arguably fourth choice at left-back.

Kiwior has seen his spot as back-up centre-back taken by Cristhian Mosquera Arsenal would not be against keeping the Polish international but accept that he is after regular game time.

They hold him in high regard and are so far after a price which is too much for suitors to pay. It could change in the final week of the transfer window.

As for Lokonga, his standing is much lower. The midfielder struggled to stay fit on loan at Sevilla last season and is simply after a way out of the Emirates Stadium at this point.

Vieira is a mix of both situations. His loans have been more fruitful but not enough to justify a position in Arteta's squad or the sort of value that Arsenal would ideally like to recoup for a player that cost them £40million.

The set of players seeking to leave will not necessarily be noticed as they have no short or long-term future under Arteta. The absence of Havertz and lack of Eze, for this weekend, will be more of a blow and something needing to be worked around.

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