Arsenal stars Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are among the names who return from international duty with injury issues ahead of FPL Gameweek 12.
Who Suffered Injuries on International Duty Ahead of FPL Gameweek 12?
Arsenal Suffer Triple Defensive Injury Blow
Premier League table toppers Arsenal return to domestic action with a crucial North London derby clash against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates in Gameweek 12 on Sunday evening.
Arsenal fans are in meltdown over the appointment of Michael Oliver, but there’s even more cause for concern now, as Mikel Arteta could be without three defenders for their rivals’ visit.
Gabriel, who partners William Saliba in central defence in one of the strongest back lines in Europe, was forced to withdraw from Brazil’s squad after picking up a thigh injury.
Seleção defeated Senegal 2-0 at the Emirates, but Gabriel was forced off after 64 minutes.
Subsequently, he remained in London and was forced to miss his national side’s friendly against Tunisia in France. Reports suggest he could be out of action for a month, or even longer.
The Gunners’ frustrations were added to when Riccardo Calafiori, who has been Arteta’s first-choice left-back throughout the campaign, pulled out of Italy’s squad with a hip problem.
Gli Azzurri manager Gennaro Gattuso said the 23-year-old ‘showed dedication to the shirt’ in trying to turn out for the national side, but that they couldn’t ‘force it’.
Early reports suggest that the injury is a minor one, and he could be available on Sunday.
Another concern is Jurrien Timber. The right-back suffered a knee injury after being on the end of a strong challenge during the Netherlands’ convincing 4-0 qualifying win over Lithuania.
Footage showed that the ex-Ajax star had sustained a deep cut to his leg.
Having played an additional 30 minutes after the incident though, like Calafiori, there is hope that he will be available for this weekend’s derby clash in the English capital.
The defensive trio join Viktor Gyokeres (thigh), Gabriel Martinelli (thigh), Noni Madueke (knee), Martin Odegaard (knee), Kai Havertz (knee) and Gabriel Jesus (knee) as doubts.
Tottenham Also Suffer North London Derby Blow
Meanwhile, Tottenham suffered an injury blow of their own during the international window.
Pape Matar Sarr, like Gabriel, was forced off during the friendly between Brazil and Senegal.
The midfielder has started more than half of Spurs’ league games this term, and having missed his national side’s clash against Kenya due to a knock, he heads into the weekend as a doubt.
Thankfully for Thomas Frank and co, his injury is seemingly a minor one. Senegal boss Pape Thiaw confirmed that Sarr came off as a precaution and that his concern was ‘not a big deal’.
Lucas Bergvall also withdrew from international duty with Sweden after undergoing further tests on a concussion suffered against Chelsea. He looks set to return for the derby this weekend.
Broja Suffers Setback and Concerns for Villa and Bournemouth
Burnley striker Armando Broja suffered another injury setback over the international window.
The Slough-born Albanian has had little to no luck with injuries in recent seasons, and the latest came as he was stretchered off in tears with an ankle issue against England on Sunday.
There had been concerns that this injury may be another long-term one, but having returned to Lancashire to undergo tests, reports suggest that he will avoid a long period on the sidelines.
Unai Emery and Aston Villa head into Gameweek 12 with multiple concerns.
They welcome relegation-battlers Leeds to Villa Park on Sunday afternoon but have been left sweating over the fitness levels of Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, Lamare Bogarde and Amadou Onana.
All four players are marked as minor doubts for the fixture. Konsa is struggling with a calf issue, Cash and Onana are struggling with muscular tightness, and Bogarde has sustained a knock.
The quartet join Tyrone Mings (thigh) and Andres Garcia (muscular) on the treatment table.
Bournemouth also head into their clash against West Ham on Saturday with a trio of concerns.
Antoine Semenyo, who is the second-highest owned player in Fantasy Premier League, returned from international duty having picked up a left anterior talo-fibular ligament sprain.
The injury was aggravated during Ghana’s friendly against Japan last Friday. According to FPL, the £8.1m midfielder has a 75% chance of turning out for the Cherries in Gameweek 12.
Justin Kluivert is another who was forced to withdraw from his national team over the last week.
He suffered an unspecified injury in the Netherlands’ World Cup qualifying clash against Poland on Friday. He featured for 74 minutes as his side drew 1-1 away in Warsaw.
As of now, the extent of his injury is unknown, but he remains doubtful for the weekend.
Ben Gannon-Doak has struggled for minutes this term, but having enjoyed a strong international window in which he scored, assisted and secured World Cup qualification, his chances of breaking into Andoni Iraola’s side would’ve likely been boosted.
Cruelly though, this doesn’t look to be the case due to an injury. After providing the assist for Scott McTominay’s wondergoal against Denmark on Tuesday, the youngster was stretchered off.
Gannon-Doak was in tears as he was withdrawn from Scotland’s crucial qualifier.
Early signs don’t look good for the former Celtic and Liverpool winger, and he will now return to the Vitality Stadium to undergo further tests to determine the severity of his injury.
