The Gunners lost ground on defending champions Manchester City last weekend with a 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool.
Arsenal lost centre-back Gabriel during the draw, while Jurrien Timber was forced off.
It added to a growing injury list, which already included captain Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners have been without the Norwegian since September, when he injured ankle ligaments on international duty.
Initial suggestions were that Odegaard would miss around eight weeks of action.
Martin Odegaard playing for Arsenal
Odegaard sustained his injury on international duty
But the Evening Standard say he has an outside chance of returning for Saturday’s trip to face Eddie Howe’s side.
Should Odegaard miss the trip, he will be saved for Inter Milan’s visit to the Emirates in the Champions League in midweek.
It will be a huge boost for Arteta to have his captain back.
The Gunners’ form has dipped of late, following defeat to Bournemouth and the draw against Liverpool.
Both Gabriel and Timber are expected to be fit for the trip to the north-east.
Arteta said Gabriel’s knee injury was ‘not serious’, while Timber’s removal was fatigue.
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