Story byJack RathbornSun, December 28, 2025 at 11:33 AM UTC·3 min readArsenal remain top of the Premier League after a hard-fought victory over Brighton but Mikel Arteta continues to battle a host of injuries. The Gunners have been hit hard at the back, in particular, with a make-shift defence against the Seagulls including Declan Rice as an emergency right-back. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRiccardo Calafiori was a late withdrawal due to an injury sustained in the warm-up and Arteta has been forced to cope without the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera throughout the festive period. Gabriel’s absence since 8 November was ended after a substitute appearance in the 2-1 victory, thanks to Martin Odegaard and a Georginio Rutter own-goal. Here’s the latest injury news with Arteta providing an update ahead of a top-of-the-table clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday night:Riccardo Calafiori“There's something with Richy as well, very, very strange,” Arteta said on the Italian after he dropped out in the warm-up before facing Brighton. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It's something that he felt yesterday, it's something very awkward that happened and today in the warm-up, he wasn't comfortable.”Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal during a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre (Arsenal FC via )Jurrien TimberArteta said that he “landed awkwardly,” there was no further clarification, suggesting the issue is likely to compromise his availability against Villa at least. Kai HavertzThe German is closing in on a return following a knee injury at Manchester United.“Quite close,” remarked Arteta before the Brighton game. “I think it will be a matter of days, not weeks. Let’s see in the next steps how he responds to that.“But he is, again, a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension.