Two of Arsenal’s best defenders have been ruled out of their Champions League clash this week.
The Gunners are hosting Kairat at the Emirates tomorrow (January 28), in a group stage game that sees the first-placed team coming up against the bottom-scoring side in the Champions League this season.
Kazakhstan Premier League outfit Kairat have just one point so far in the competition, with a goal difference of -14. Only Villareal, who have a goal difference of -10, are sat on the same points tally.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has four first-team absences to contend with in the Champions League this week.placeholder image
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has four first-team absences to contend with in the Champions League this week. | AFP via Getty Images
It comes after Arsenal’s Premier League title charge faltered last weekend, with a 3-2 defeat to a resurgent Manchester United. The Red Devils weren’t without their sacrifices, as Patrick Dorgu picked up a hamstring injury .
Ahead of the Champions League tie, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given a press conference where he confirmed two of his top defenders have been ruled out.
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Jurrien Timber and William Saliba will not feature, with the Spaniard claiming that they are both “not available” - Mikel Merino and Declan Rice will also not play, as they are both on three yellow cards.
Timber and Saliba’s absences are more likely to be precautions rather than full-blown injuries, and it’s expected that Arteta will field a weaker starting XI against Kairat to give his best players a rest.
He said: “No, those are not [available] - it’s a good opportunity now that we make a different kind of work with them to get them in the best possible condition for the weekend hopefully.
“It’s been like this for the first seven months of the competition. Whether it was with this competition, domestic league and Champions League, or with international players playing for their countries as well.
“There is nothing new. The good news is that we have some players back as well now that are going to be helping us.
“We are used to it, so that’s never going to be an excuse.”
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