Six players could miss Arsenal vs Everton after injury boost confirmed and return hint dropped

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Arsenal face Everton in the Premier League with both teams each having two minor injury issues heading into the clash

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend with Everton as the visitors to Emirates Stadium. The Gunners will be aiming to extend their lead at the top and also put a disappointing Champions League last-16 first leg against Bayern Leverkusen behind them.

Despite a poor performance, Mikel Arteta's side head into next Tuesday's second leg on home soil level with their German opposition. Before then however, Arsenal welcome Everton to north London on Saturday evening with the chance to put further pressure on Manchester City, who play a few hours later.

Arteta is hoping for an injury boost over the coming days and in the lead up to their Carabao Cup final against Pep Guardiola's side with Martin Odegaard plagued by issues in 2026.

The club captain has been categorically ruled out of the last few Gunners matches by Arteta. However, the Spaniard offered some hope of a return during his Friday press conference when asked about potentially having him and Leandro Trossard available.

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He said: "We'll have to wait and see. I'll speak to the doctors, and whether they are involved or not." The Belgium international was forced off in the FA Cup win over Mansfield Town and was subsequently absent for the trip to Germany the following week.

Riccardo Calafiori was also substituted in that cup clash but he was back on the bench for the first leg against Leverkusen.

The Italy international featuring leaves Mikel Merino as the only other Arsenal player out injured alongside Trossard and Odegaard, though the duo are expected back soon.

As for the Toffees, David Moyes has three players out injured and one of those is also a long-term absentee in Jack Grealish. The on-loan Manchester City star underwent surgery on his foot earlier this year and is not expected to return this season.

Charly Alcaraz is another Everton star currently unavailable having picked up an injury in training last month. Moyes confirmed he was likely to miss a few weeks with the trip to Arsenal seeming to come too early.

In a new update from this week, he said: “He's doing really well, Charlie. He's a really good boy behind the scenes. He's desperate to be fit and play and get himself out there. So he's very close.” Seamus Coleman is also set to be absent this weekend but is targeting a return before the March international break.

Jarrad Branthwaite has missed a large portion of the campaign with a hamstring injury, but has been back in the fold over the last few weeks. His absence from a training camp overseas and the limping in Everton's last game saw concerns emerge over a possible setback.

However, Moyes has confirmed he is all good to go but also stated his minutes are likely to remain being carefully managed.

He said: “I think that people have to accept that that's probably a bit of the way it will be with Jarrad at different times, but we can see the importance of him to us, so hopefully we will get as many games out of him as we possibly can between now and the end of the season.”