Arsenal welcome Monaco to the Emirates in Champions League on Wednesday
The Gunners could be missing as many as seven first team players for the clash
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By TUM BALOGUN
Published: 13:03 EST, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 13:03 EST, 10 December 2024
Arsenal could be without two more first-team stars due to injury for their Champions League clash against Monaco in a massive blow to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
The Premier League outfit could be missing as many as seven players for the visit of Adi Hutter's side after Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey were unable to participate in training on Tuesday.
Arsenal are already absent of Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The unprecedented spate of injuries in defensive positions could see Kieran Tierney make his first appearance for the side in more than 16 months. The Scotland international, a regular in the team when Arteta first joined in 2019, has been an unused substitute in recent weeks.
However, Tierney's terrible luck with injuries and run of poor form saw him demoted from the starting XI and sent out on loan to Real Sociedad for the 2023-24 season. The 27-year-old is yet to make a senior appearance this term, having only just recovered from a hamstring issue.
'He’s ready, he’s training really well and he will have an opportunity for sure,' Arteta said on Tierney's chances of featuring against Monaco. 'He’s earned it for sure. He’s willing to do it. And when that happens we have to give a chance.'
Mikel Arteta could be without as many as seven first-team players for the visit of Monaco on Wednesday night
Jurrien Timber (pictured) and Thomas Partey were unable to participate in training on Wednesday
Kieran Tierney could be make his first appearance for the Gunners in 16 months on Wednesday
The Spaniard named his ninth different back four of the season in the Gunners' disappointing 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday. Arteta insisted that he will give the players for whom fitness is a concern every opportunity to be fit for the European tie.
'We have to manage a lot of players. Some of them won't be fit for tomorrow, some of them are still doubts,' he added. 'We have 24 hours to make those decisions. Hopefully we make the right ones.
'It is what it is. We have to accept the challenge and there are opportunities for other players. We need to accept the reality and move forward.
'I'm really happy with how we are playing. I'm happy with how the team is adapting and players are making an effort to play in different positions.'
Arsenal are seventh in the Champions League table after five matches and one of seven teams on 10 points. That list includes Wednesday night's opponents, who are also putting together a impressive league campaign in Ligue 1.
Monaco sit third in the French top-flight and boast the likes of former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino in their frontline. The Emirates clash could also see ex-Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun return to the club for the first time since his £38million transfer in 2023.