Arsenal's Front Three: Fitness Concerns Amid Top Form

Arsenal's attacking trio of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli are all performing exceptionally well, but each has encountered injury concerns during the international break—raising questions about their fitness.

In their recent comeback victory against Southampton, Havertz, Martinelli, and Saka all contributed significantly to the win. However, their participation in international duties led to several injury scares. Havertz withdrew from the German national team due to knee problems, Saka experienced a hamstring issue and left the pitch during England's defeat to Greece, and Martinelli missed Brazil's last match due to a calf injury.

Compounding Arsenal's injury woes is the absence of captain Martin Ødegaard, who has been ruled out until at least November. This situation poses a challenge for the Gunners, especially given the outstanding performances from their frontline players.

Despite the concerns, all three forwards have shown they are in great form. With Leandro Trossard stepping in to cover Ødegaard's midfield role, and with Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling mostly serving as substitutes—despite starting against Southampton—Saka, Havertz, and Martinelli seem secure in their starting positions for the time being.

Recent Injury Updates:

• On October 6, Havertz left the Germany squad due to knee issues, just a day after playing in Arsenal's 3-1 win over Southampton.
• On October 10, Saka exited the match against Greece with a hamstring problem. England’s assistant manager, Lee Carsley, mentioned that Saka was close to being available for the game against Finland but was sent back to Arsenal for safety reasons.
• On October 14, Martinelli underwent an MRI after complaining about discomfort in his right calf. He was subsequently rested for Brazil's win over Peru.

With a challenging fixture list approaching, beginning with a match against Bournemouth this Saturday, Mikel Arteta will be relying heavily on a fit and ready front three.