Mikel Arteta offered a far-from-reassuring injury update as Arsenal prepare to face Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
With duels against Dinamo Zagreb and Girona coming up in the new year to round off the league phase, the Gunners can all but make sure of their place in the round of 16 by winning their upcoming encounter.
However, Arsenal's task is set to be made considerably more difficult thanks to a litany of defensive injuries. The situation has seemingly only worsened since Sunday's 1-1 draw at Fulham.
❌ Gabriel
❌ Riccardo Calafiori
❌ Jurrien Timber
❌ Thomas Partey
❌ Oleksandr Zinchenko
❌ Ben White
❌ Takehiro Tomiyasu
This must be why Mikel Arteta keeps on signing defenders every season… pic.twitter.com/5ZAhr8tBqA
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) December 10, 2024
The Gunners trained for the final time ahead of Wednesday's continental clash on Tuesday, with the previously injured Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori confirmed as absent. The pair have missed Arsenal's previous two games, while Oleksandr Zinchenko, another absentee, didn't play at the weekend after starting against Man Utd.
Concerningly, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey also missed the session, suggesting their statuses for the game are up in the air. Timber has played a worrying number of minutes (when fit and available) for a player coming off an ACL tear, while Partey missed the West Ham victory at the end of November due to a muscle complaint.
The midfielder quickly returned to the fold a few days later and was also in the XI at Craven Cottage. However, we know what he's like when he catches the injury bug.
Arteta on fitness of Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zinchenko who missed training: "We have to manage a lot of the players. Some of them probably not fit for tomorrow, some of them a doubt. We have 24 hours to make those decisions."#AFC
— Jordan Davies (@jordandaviesj) December 10, 2024
"We have to manage a lot of the players," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference (via Jordan Davies). "Some of them probably not fit for tomorrow, some of them a doubt. We have 24 hours to make those decisions."
Arsenal will have gaping voids at full-back if Partey and Timber both aren't fit. At right-back, Arsenal would have no senior options available, and the boss would have to turn to Kieran Tierney at left-back.
On the Scot, Arteta said: “Tierney is ready and he can get opportunities, he’s part of the team”.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, who's appeared off the bench for the Gunners in this competition, is another alternative, while utility man Mikel Merino may be considered. In short, the situation is far from ideal, but the club are right to express caution given the returns over their injured stars given the hectic nature of December. Including Wednesday's game, Arsenal have four more games before Christmas.
READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS HERE!