The "Crisis" Corner: Arsenal & Tottenham
If you're an Arsenal fan, the news from the FA Cup win over Mansfield wasn't all celebrations. Mikel Arteta is facing a defensive nightmare just as the Champions League and Everton arrive at the Emirates.
Riccardo Calafiori: Substituted with a hamstring issue. He is officially Doubtful for the Everton clash.
Leandro Trossard: Clutched his leg and was forced off. Early reports suggest a muscle strain.
The "Missing Trio": Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhães, and Declan Rice all missed the last match with "niggles." Arteta is sweating on their fitness for the weekend.
Meanwhile, Tottenham is in a full-blown emergency. They currently have 11 players sidelined.
Micky van de Ven: Suspended for the Liverpool game after a red card.
James Maddison: Still out long-term with a torn ACL.
Cristian Romero: The only silver lining—he returns from his four-match ban just in time for Anfield.
Manchester City: The Haaland "Rhythm" Issue
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that while Erling Haaland is back, he is not "sharp." After sitting out the FA Cup win over Newcastle to focus on training, the big Norwegian is fighting to get his top speed back following a minor ankle problem.
The City Injury List:
Josko Gvardiol: Out with a tibial fracture. Unlikely to return before May.
Mateo Kovacic: Recovering from ankle surgery; still weeks away from match fitness.
Rico Lewis: Dealing with a swollen ankle. He is targeting the West Ham game (March 14) for a return.
Liverpool: Isak and Wirtz Updates
Arne Slot’s men are looking strong but are still missing their clinical edge up front.
Alexander Isak: Progressing well after his fibula fracture but is still in "rehab mode." He isn't expected back until after the March international break.
Florian Wirtz: The German star is back in partial training. Slot hinted he might get "a few minutes" soon, but don't expect a start against Spurs.
Wataru Endo: Out for the long haul with a serious foot injury.
Matchweek 30: Availability Snapshot
Team | Key Players OUT | Key Players DOUBTFUL |
Arsenal | Merino, Saliba | Trossard, Calafiori, Rice |
Man City | Gvardiol, Kovacic | Haaland (Fitness), Lewis |
Chelsea | Colwill, Lavia, Estêvão | Fofana |
Newcastle | Guimarães, Schär, Miley | Sven Botman |
Liverpool | Isak, Endo, Bradley | Florian Wirtz |
FPL Manager Tip: If you have Trossard or Haaland, this is the week to keep a close eye on the Friday press conferences. With the Champions League Round of 16 also in play, heavy rotation is almost guaranteed.