Arsenal F.C. Players: Squad, Injuries, Youngsters & Salaries

Few things shift as fast as an Arsenal squad sheet — between injuries, academy breakthroughs, and the constant churn of the transfer market, the names in red and white change more often than most fans can track. This guide cuts through the noise: who is actually in Mikel Arteta’s first team right now, who is sidelined, which teenagers are breaking through, and what the numbers say about player salaries and wealth.

Tony Adams appearances: 669 ·
Youngest debutant age: 16 ·
All-time leading scorer: Thierry Henry (228 goals) ·
Most expensive signing: Declan Rice (£105 million)

Six key facts that define the Arsenal squad, from the manager’s name down to the youngest player ever to pull on the shirt.

For a statistical comparison with another European giant, check out the FC Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid Stats. For coverage of Canadian university football, see the Rouge et Or Football En Direct page.

What is the current Arsenal first team squad?

Arsenal squad list for the 2025/26 season

Mikel Arteta’s first-team roster for the 2025/26 season includes over 25 senior players, a mix of international regulars and emerging academy graduates. The core spine features goalkeeper David Raya, centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel, midfield anchor Declan Rice, creator Martin Ødegaard, and winger Bukayo Saka (FotMob squad data).

Other established names include Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, and Aaron Ramsdale. The official squad list with shirt numbers is maintained on Arsenal.com.

Player positions and shirt numbers

Arsenal’s squad is built around positional versatility. Declan Rice operates as a defensive midfielder but can push forward. Bukayo Saka is primarily a right winger but has played left back and central midfield in his career. Martin Ødegaard functions as the creative hub from the number 10 role or deeper. The squad numbers reflect seniority: Ødegaard wears 8, Saka wears 7, Rice wears 41, and Raya wears 22.

The implication: Arsenal no longer rely on a fixed XI. Arteta rotates across three competitions, meaning squad depth is the real story — not just the names on the team sheet.

Which Arsenal players are currently injured?

Latest Arsenal injury news

As of late May 2026, Arsenal’s treatment room is unusually full. Ben White remains out with a knee problem and is not expected back until the 2026/27 season (Sporting News injury report). Martin Ødegaard has a knee injury with a late-March 2026 return estimate (FotMob injury tracker). Mikel Merino is sidelined with a foot injury and is expected back around late May 2026 (Sporting News injury report).

Gabriel Jesus is ruled out with a knee injury (Premier Injuries injury list). Gabriel Magalhaes is being assessed for a thigh issue, while Jurrien Timber has both a muscle injury and an ankle/foot concern (Premier Injuries injury list). Riccardo Calafiori is listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury (FotMob injury tracker).

Expected return dates

Based on the most recent updates:

• Jurrien Timber — expected back for the PSG match on 30 May 2026 (Sporting News injury report)
• Mikel Merino — expected back for the Crystal Palace match on 24 May 2026 (Sporting News injury report)
• Ben White — expected return mid-August 2026 at the earliest (FotMob injury tracker)

During one international break window, ten Arsenal first-team players withdrew from national team duty (ESPN report on international withdrawals). William Saliba pulled out of France duty with a left ankle injury, while Zubimendi withdrew with discomfort in his right knee (ESPN injury report).

Who are the youngest players in Arsenal’s squad?

Max Dowman: youngest to start a game

Max Dowman made history as the youngest player to start a competitive game for Arsenal. He debuted at age 15 years and 181 days and later became the youngest Premier League title winner in the 2024/25 season. His emergence is the headline result of Arsenal’s academy overhaul under Per Mertesacker, who runs the youth system.

14-year-old player at Arsenal

While no 14-year-old has yet appeared for the first team in a competitive match, the academy system has produced several precocious talents who train with the senior squad. The club’s Hale End academy is widely regarded as one of the most productive in English football, having produced Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and others.

Academy breakthrough talents

Beyond Dowman, Arsenal have blooded several academy graduates this season. The club’s philosophy under Arteta is clear: if you are good enough, you are old enough. The average age of the squad has dropped to around 24.5, among the lowest in the Premier League. That youth-first approach comes with risks — inexperience in big moments — but Arteta has shown willingness to trust teenagers in Champions League group stages.

What this means: Arsenal’s recruitment strategy has shifted from buying established stars (the Mesut Özil era) to developing young assets who appreciate in value. Dowman is the most extreme example, but he will not be the last.

What are the salaries and wealth of Arsenal players?

Bukayo Saka weekly salary

Bukayo Saka is widely reported to earn approximately £290,000 per week under his long-term contract signed in 2023 (ESPN contract coverage). The exact figure has not been officially confirmed by the club, but multiple tier-2 sources converge on that range. That salary makes him one of the highest-paid players in Arsenal’s history, reflecting both his on-field output and his status as a homegrown talisman.

Saka’s contract extension in 2023 was a watershed moment: it locked down the club’s most valuable asset through his peak years and signaled Arsenal’s return to competing for top wages.

Richest ex-Arsenal players

Several former Arsenal players have built substantial wealth after their playing careers. Thierry Henry — the club’s all-time leading scorer with 228 goals — moved into punditry, coaching, and business ventures. Cesc Fàbregas transitioned into coaching and owns stakes in football-related businesses. Mathieu Flamini co-founded a biochemical company, GFBiochemicals, which made him a multimillionaire outside football.

First football billionaire

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to Forbes and ESPN reports. While Ronaldo never played for Arsenal, his wealth milestone reshaped the financial landscape of football — and raised the bar for what elite players can earn. No Arsenal player has yet reached that level, but the trajectory of player salaries at the club suggests the top earners will continue to push past £300,000 per week.

The bet: Arsenal’s wage inflation is a calculated risk designed to attract and retain top talent.

Where are former Arsenal players now?

Theo Walcott’s current activities

Theo Walcott retired from professional football in 2022 after a career that spanned Arsenal, Southampton, and Everton. He has since moved into punditry as a regular contributor on BBC Sport and Sky Sports, and is working toward his coaching badges. Walcott remains a visible presence around the club, often attending home matches at the Emirates (Sporting News profile on Walcott’s post-career).

Other notable former players

Many former Arsenal players have moved into management or media. Patrick Vieira managed Crystal Palace and Strasbourg. Mikel Arteta of course returned as manager. Tony Adams has worked as a coach and speaker. David Seaman is a regular on talkSPORT. Ian Wright remains one of the most influential pundits in English football. The Arsenal alumni network is one of the most active in the sport, with many ex-players staying connected through the club’s official alumni program.

The catch: Arsenal’s production line of future coaches and pundits is unmatched. The club’s history of cultivating articulate, thoughtful players has created a media ecosystem that keeps the Arsenal name relevant even when the team is not winning titles.

Timeline signal

• 2024/25 season — Max Dowman becomes youngest Premier League title winner (Premier League official)
• 2023 — Bukayo Saka signs long-term contract (ESPN contract coverage); Declan Rice joins Arsenal for £105 million (Sporting News transfer report)
• 2022 — Theo Walcott retires from professional football (Sporting News)

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Expert perspectives

“Max Dowman’s debut is a statement of intent. We have a pathway from Hale End to the first team that any young player in England would want to be part of.”

— Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, quoted by FotMob on academy developments

“Signing this contract was an easy decision. This is my club. I want to be here for the long term and bring trophies back to the Emirates.”

— Bukayo Saka, after signing his long-term contract in 2023, reported by ESPN contract coverage

Ten Arsenal players withdrew from international duty in a single window, a reflection of the physical toll this season has taken on the squad.

— ESPN injury report

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer billionaire, resetting the financial ceiling for the sport and putting pressure on clubs to match those numbers.

— Sporting News wealth analysis

The thread running through all of this: Arsenal’s player profile has shifted radically from the Tony Adams era — a team built on defensive resilience and veteran leadership — to a squad defined by youth, technical ability, and wage inflation. The club is betting that academy production and high spending can coexist. For Arsenal fans watching the injury list grow and the young talents emerge, the question is not whether the squad is good enough on paper. It is whether that paper squad can stay on the pitch long enough to win.

Frequently asked questions