How Arsenal’s injury crisis compares to PL rivals after huge Gabriel blow

Just when Arsenal thought their injury problems this season were about to ease, the Gunners were dealt a huge potential blow ahead of their crunch clash with Real Madrid next week.

Defender Gabriel pulled up early during their Premier League win over Fulham, which incidentally saw the welcome return off the bench of Bukayo Saka, who ended up scoring Arsenal’s winner.

With injuries and suspensions biting all season for the north Londoners, many have pointed to this as a primary factor in Arsenal’s faltering title bid this term.

But how bad has it really been for Mikel Arteta’s side, and how do their injury numbers compare to their top-flight rivals? We have crunched the numbers to find out.

For this list, with the help of data from Transfermarkt, we have covered three main areas:

• Players injured – The number of different first-team players unavailable during the 2024/25 Premier League season
• Number of injuries – The number of separate periods missed through injury throughout the senior squad
• Matches missed – The cumulative number of matches first-team players have been unavailable for in the current campaign

Note: All stats are correct following the end of play on 1st April 2025.

1

Arsenal

32 injuries, 139 matches missed

There’s no getting away from the fact that Arsenal have had a horrendous season in terms of keeping key players fit – and the stats suggest they have had it worse than many of their Premier League rivals.

Mikel Arteta has had to deal with long-term absentees like Ben White and Bukayo Saka this season, with both players only just returning to full fitness. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all out for the foreseeable future.

Only three clubs can claim to have suffered more injuries than Arsenal’s 32 throughout the campaign, while the Gunners rank in the top five for each of the key injury metrics we have looked at, pointing to a high volume of not only the number of injuries, but also the lengths of the layoffs.

At the time of writing, Arsenal first-team players have missed a combined 139 Premier League matches, with that surely set to rise in the wake of Gabriel’s worrying injury in midweek.

2

Aston Villa

34 injuries, 114 matches missed

Aston Villa have suffered more injury setbacks than Arsenal, which may go some way to explaining why they have not been as impressive this year in the league, albeit amid a dazzling Champions League campaign.

However, the big picture is slightly brighter for Villa in the sense that some of the players involved, such as Diego Carlos and Jaden Philogene, are no longer at the club.

Most Premier League clubs this season have also seen more different players enter the treatment room, so it could be argued that Villa have got off lightly in the injury department this year.

3

Bournemouth

22 injuries, 128 matches missed

Bournemouth’s injury record this term isn’t too bleak, but for a handful of long-term injury layoffs.

The Cherries only just welcomed back Marcos Senesi from a hamstring problem, while the likes of Adam Smith, Luis Sinisterra and Enes Unal have been out for the majority of the season.

But compared to their top-flight rivals, they’ve been blessed more than most this year, which is just as well with Andoni Iraola’s impressive side looking to qualify for Europe this term.

4

Brentford

27 injuries, 194 matches missed

Brentford players have missed the most Premier League games this season through injury, though this is largely owing to several players being left unavailable throughout the campaign.

Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva and Gustavo Nunes have not been able to make a single league appearance, while summer signing Igor Thiago only managed a brief comeback from injury before ending up crocked once more.

The Bees’ defence has borne the brunt of their medical problems, with Rico Henry also among the major absentees, while Kristoffer Ajer and Ethan Pinnock have both spent long periods out of action.

5

Brighton & Hove Albion

34 injuries, 173 matches missed

Brighton have suffered injuries to the most players this season (21), along with Spurs.

The Seagulls have fared rather better than Ange Postecoglou’s side in the league, and will still harbour hopes of a European finish despite their issues.

The bulk of those stem from the likes of James Milner, Tariq Lamptey and summer signing Ferdi Kadioglu, while Solly March has yet to manage a run of games under Fabian Hurzeler.

Their current total of 173 league matches missed through injury is the second-worst in the Premier League behind Brentford, so all things considered, it could be argued they’ve been performing above their expected level this year.

6

Chelsea

29 matches, 126 matches missed

Given the size of Chelsea’s squad, it is inevitable that injuries will be a recurring problem. Indeed, with 29 separate injuries to deal with, only four top-flight clubs can say they’ve had it worse.

The Blues have seen 20 first-teamers enter the treatment room so far this term. Reece James has been among the frequent visitors, along with Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson.

While there are a fair amount of players without first-team experience also struggling to stay fit (such as Aaron Anselmino and Omari Kellyman), the severity of injuries to players Enzo Maresca would often start could point to why the west Londoners’ title challenge faded rather quickly.

7

Crystal Palace

14 injuries, 109 matches missed

Crystal Palace have fared rather well on the injury front this season, which will surely have had Oliver Glasner counting his blessings given the Eagles’ slow start to the campaign.

Cheick Doucoure and Matheus Franca have been among their chief absentees this term, but on the whole, Palace have only suffered injuries to 10 players since August – two of whom are currently off the books at Selhurst Park.

In fact, bar the long layoffs in the squad, Palace have one of the fittest squads in the league.

8

Everton

20 injuries, 130 matches missed

Given their struggles in recent years, it will have been imperative that Everton keep players fit to give themselves the best chance of survival this season.

And while they’ve had their fair share (eight players have missed a period of seven straight games or more), the Toffees compare pretty well to their Premier League rivals, with injuries not exactly widespread throughout the squad.

With Premier League clubs experiencing an average of 23.4 injuries this year so far, Everton’s tally of 20 has proved more than manageable, particularly following David Moyes’ return to Merseyside.

9

Fulham

14 injuries, 71 matches missed

Fulham could claim to be one of the most consistent sides in the Premier League this term – and having the majority of their squad to choose from almost certainly plays a key role.

The Cottagers have been blessed by the injury gods this year, losing just 71 matches throughout the squad this term after 30 matches played.

When you also consider they currently have three long-term injuries creating the bulk of this, Marco Silva’s fitness team must be doing something right.

10

Ipswich Town

25 injuries, 105 matches missed

Ipswich Town were always going to be up against it as far as staying up was concerned this year, and while the Tractor Boys are not down yet, they could have done with a bit more luck on the injury front until now.

The number of injuries they have had so far has been pretty average compared to their rivals, though Ipswich currently have several first-teamers who may not make a return before the end of the campaign.

With the majority of those players attackers, you could argue that injuries have played a part in their lack of potency this year, despite the stats suggesting they have got off relatively lightly.

11

Leicester City

14 injuries, 104 matches missed

While there could be a case to say injuries have somewhat derailed Ipswich’s season, you’d do well to convince people that the same applies to Leicester City.

The Foxes have received even fewer injuries than their relegation rivals, and although they have missed a similar number of combined matches, the squad has largely remained fit.

While the likes of Abdul Fatawu and Ricardo Pereira have been the major absentees, it would be a tough sell for Ruud van Nistelrooy to justifiably complain about injuries as his doomed side battle against the drop.

12

Liverpool

21 injuries, 78 matches missed

Can Liverpool’s rivals say the Reds have had more than their fair share of luck when it comes to injuries? Possibly.

Compared to the rest of the Premier League, Liverpool have had the average number of injured players so far this season – 15. But when it comes to the length and severity of these injuries, they have often been short-term, with players in the same position avoiding being unavailable simultaneously.

For instance, Joe Gomez was ruled out for the rest of the season just as Ibrahima Konate came back from injury, while Cody Gakpo’s recent troubles have come following Diogo Jota’s return to the fold.

Of course, there is more to walking to a Premier League title than staying injury-free, but there’s no doubt Liverpool have taken full advantage of their rivals’ suffering.

13

Manchester City

29 injuries, 124 matches missed

Manchester City’s drop in form can almost be traced back to losing Rodri to a season-ending injury back in September. But even aside from the Spaniard’s absence, the Citizens have had a rotten campaign from a fitness perspective.

Pep Guardiola’s defence has been ravaged by injuries this term, and they’d have been in serious trouble had they not been able to spend big on Abdukodir Khusanov in January – while Erling Haaland has recently added to their injury woes.

They’ve not had as many injured players compared to most teams in the Premier League, but a decent chunk of their first-teamers have barely had a look-in this season due to fitness problems.

14

Manchester United

29 injuries, 134 matches missed

There may be something dodgy in the water in Manchester, as Man Utd have had a similar injury record to their city rivals this season.

Having to deal with a number of injury-prone players like Luke Shaw and Mason Mount will no doubt have been a hindrance to Ruben Amorim as he seeks to turn his ailing side around, while he was not helped by Amad Diallo’s untimely injury just after letting Antony go out on loan.

So it could be argued that the Red Devils have had a tough time when it comes to keeping players fit, placing above average in each of the key metrics we’ve followed here.

15

Newcastle United

22 injuries, 126 matches missed

Newcastle United have had plenty of players out at some point this season, which is pretty impressive given their recent cup success and strong challenge for Champions League football next term.

19 injured players is the fourth-highest total in the league, though the number of matches missed has been rather average, pointing to a mixture of long-term absences and brief recovery times.

At present, the squad is in pretty decent shape, with only the defence a worrying sight, particularly in light of Lewis Hall’s recent layoff.

16

Nottingham Forest

10 injuries, 60 matches missed

Nottingham Forest have the cleanest injury record in the league, but surely even that cannot take any credit away from the relegation favourites becoming contenders for Champions League qualification.

Forest have had the fewest injuries this term, with just eight first-team players suffering from knocks, which has seen them accumulate a league low of 60 missed matches – almost half of the league’s average.

But for unlucky long-term injuries to Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare, the picture could have been even brighter for Nuno Espirito Santo, who is clearly making the most of having nearly all his men available week in, week out.

17

Southampton

28 injuries, 95 matches missed

Southampton have had a miserable season, and excuses on the injury front won’t gain them any sympathy.

If anything, the Saints have had more luck than not when it comes to fitness concerns, as although they have had an average amount of injuries, they have got off rather lightly in terms of matches missed by players.

So for all the reasons Southampton will go down this season without much of a fight, injuries are unlikely to be one of them.

18

Tottenham Hotspur

35 injuries, 159 matches missed

Tottenham Hotspur have arguably been the unluckiest side from a fitness point of view.

Spurs have had more players injured and more separate fitness issues to deal with throughout the campaign.

You’d do well to find a defence as decimated as Tottenham’s, with even new recruit Kevin Danso now on the treatment table following long periods out for Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

It’s been a relentless and unforgiving season for injuries in N17, and you may not have needed the stats to tell you that, given Ange Postecoglou’s constant (justified) moaning in press conferences.

19

West Ham United

13 injuries, 64 matches missed

Despite their uninspiring season, West Ham United have one of the fittest squads in the league.

Graham Potter’s side have only recently entered double figures in terms of players injured this campaign, so the number of players that have remained fit all year points to a fitness team doing their job.

10 players have only missed a combined 64 matches this term, meaning the Hammers have had little to complain about in terms of availability. If only they had bought more wisely in the summer…

20

Wolves

16 injuries, 140 matches missed

Wolves are arguably the anomaly of the top-flight sides. Vitor Pereira’s outfit have seen a pretty average amount of injury trouble come their way this year, though the number of matches missed is among the highest in the division.

The main reason for that is the number of long-term absentees in the senior squad. Sasa Kalajdzic has been unlucky with fitness pretty much since he arrived at Molineux, while Boubacar Traore and Yerson Mosquera have also been out for lengthy periods.

Therefore, injuries haven’t been too much of an issue for the Old Gold in general, though when they have bitten, it’s been pretty severe.