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13 players set to miss Arsenal vs Chelsea as Bukayo Saka races to recover from injury
Feb 28 2026 08:11 · By Kieran King/Senior Sports Writer/and/Stephen Killen/Senior Sports Content Creator · 52 Reads
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Arsenal and Chelsea clash for the fourth time in three months as Mikel Arteta's squad host the Blues at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners aim to build on last Sunday's 4-1 victory against Tottenham in the north London Derby with another significant win in their quest for a first Premier League title in 22 years.
Chelsea will be eager to rebound after last Saturday's 1-1 stalemate against Burnley and provide their Champions League qualification aspirations a substantial lift.
However, several players will be absent from Sunday's match in north London. The Gunners will miss Mikel Merino as he continues his recovery from foot surgery.
Kai Havertz, Ben White and Bukayo Saka are in a race against time to be fit, with Arteta confirming in his pre-match press conference on Friday that they are waiting until Saturday to decide on their availabilities.
Max Dowman made his comeback for Arsenal Under 21s against Ipswich Town on Friday, after being sidelined for three months due to an ankle issue. Sunday's encounter with Chelsea is likely to come too soon for the 16-year-old.
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As for Chelsea, the Blues have a considerably longer list of players injured or suspended for the fixture.
Levi Colwill is a long-term absentee, with the defender yet to feature this season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Estevao are both sidelined owing to thigh injuries, whilst Wesley Fofana is suspended, having received his red card in the stalemate against Burnley last weekend.
Dario Essugo is another long-term casualty, with the midfielder not anticipated to return until March.
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He hasn't appeared for the Blues yet since his £18.5million move from Sporting CP last summer.
Marc Cucurella is equally unavailable for the Blues against Arsenal after sustaining a hamstring injury in the draw against Leeds United earlier this month, though Rosenior is optimistic he will be back soon.
Mykhailo Mudryk is the final Chelsea player who will certainly miss the journey to the Emirates.
Filip Jorgensen , meanwhile, could rejoin the squad to face Arsenal, though he is facing a late fitness test to feature and would be unlikely to start.