Arsenal injury list: Players out, potential return dates, predicted lineup for next game vs. Sunderland

Arsenal will seek to pile further pressure on Manchester City in the Premier League title race when they host Sunderland on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta's team can extend their lead at the summit to nine points with victory over the Black Cats ahead of City's daunting trip to Anfield on Sunday.

The Gunners secured their place in the Carabao Cup final in midweek, and the 1-0 semfinal second-leg win over Chelsea was secured without key men Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Here's the latest on the fitness of that duo and others.

MORE: Are Arsenal really so boring? It's time to bust the Premier League leaders' flawed set-piece narrative

Arsenal injury list

Below is the latest injury picture for Arsenal, and estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.

Martin Odegaard

• Injury: Undisclosed
• Expected return date: February 12 (vs. Brentford)

Martin Odegaard was a surprise absence from the squad to face Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal. Mikel Arteta said that Odegaard "felt a little niggle" during his substitute appearance against Leeds, and that he was unable to train prior to the match because of it.

Having expressed hope he would be ready for the weekend, on Friday, Arteta said his captain's return would be "a matter of days", suggesting the Sunderland game might come a little too soon.

Mikel Merino

• Injury: Broken foot
• Expected return date: May

It was reported in Spain late on February 1 that Merino could miss much of the rest of the season with a broken foot, and Arsenal confirmed the injury a day later. The club said the midfielder will be out for "an extended period" while he recovers from surgery, but the intention is for him to be back in training before the season ends.

Bukayo Saka

• Injury: Hip
• Expected return date: February 7 (vs. Sunderland)

Saka has not scored a goal in nine straight Premier League matches, and while hoping to stop that skid before reaching double digits, he went down with an injury.

He was yanked from the Arsenal starting lineup after suffering an injury during the warmups prior to their January 31 match against Leeds United, replaced by Noni Madueke. Prior to the Sunderland match, Arteta said: "His hip is getting much better. Hopefully, very soon he will be with us. Very soon."

MORE: The latest on Bukayo Saka's injury in the Arsenal warmup

Jurrien Timber

• Injury: Unknown
• Expected return date: February 7 (vs. Sunderland)

Timber sat out training on Thursday with an unspecified complaint but Arteta said he expected the Netherlands defender to be ready to take on Sunderland.

Max Dowman

• Injury: Ankle
• Expected return date: February 14 (vs. Wigan Athletic)

Shuttled back and forth between Arsenal's first team and the U-21 side, Dowman picked up an ankle injury in the youth team's victory over Manchester United in early December. Speaking on January 13, Arteta said Dowman was likely looking at a similar layoff to Mosquera.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Chelsea

Formation: 4-3-3

Kepa (GK)

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly

Havertz, Zubimendi, Rice

Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Arsenal fixture schedule: Next five games

Arsenal face three successive Premier League London derbies after they host Sunderland, with an FA Cup fourth-round clash against League One Wigan also on the agenda.

• Arsenal vs. Sunderland | Premier League | Saturday, February 7
• Brentford vs. Arsenal | Premier League | Thursday, February 12
• Arsenal vs. Wigan Athletic | FA Cup fourth round | Sunday, February 15
• Tottenham vs. Arsenal | Premier League | Sunday, February 22
• Chelsea vs. Arsenal | Premier League | Sunday, March 1