Just after beating MU, Arsenal immediately faces a potential crisis

Following their Premier League opener against MU, Arsenal is now confronted with a possible squad crisis as numerous key players suffer various injuries.

Arsenal started the 2025/26 Premier League season positively with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford. However, the joy for coach Mikel Arteta's team was quickly overshadowed by concerns over injuries, with several key players encountering issues just after the first round.

The biggest worry comes from the right-back position. Ben White started the match against Man Utd but had to leave the field in the 71st minute and was later seen training separately from the team. Last season, White only appeared 26 times due to a knee injury that required surgery. Jurrien Timber, who replaced White at Old Trafford, is also not in good shape. The Dutch defender missed the entire Singapore and Hong Kong tours due to an ankle injury and, despite joining warm-ups, had to stop midway through the most recent training session.

The defensive personnel problem worsens as Arsenal parted ways with Thomas Partey this summer, a player who often filled in at right-back. If both White and Timber are unavailable, Arteta may be forced to deploy a player out of position in the upcoming match against Leeds this weekend.

Not only the defense but Arsenal’s midfield is also facing challenges. Kai Havertz, expected to play a key role this season, suffered a knee injury at Old Trafford. The club is currently awaiting detailed scan results to assess the severity. Meanwhile, the urgent signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace for £67.5 million, snatching him from Tottenham, suggests Havertz’s situation might be complicated. Additionally, Arsenal is still without Gabriel Jesus, who is undergoing long-term knee injury treatment, and newcomer Christian Norgaard missed the opener due to a minor issue.

This is clearly not the scenario Arteta hoped for, especially after Arsenal invested over £200 million in the summer to strengthen the squad. High-profile signings such as Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and soon Eze are expected to boost the Gunners’ strength enough to compete for the title after three consecutive seasons finishing as runners-up.

For now, fans are most eager to hear updates from Arteta during the pre-match press conference ahead of the Friday game against Leeds. The assessments of White, Timber, and Havertz’s injuries will greatly influence Arsenal’s personnel plans and strength in the early part of the season.