The latest Arsenal injury update indicates the Gunners could be without seven first-team players for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Monaco.
Fresh Injury Concerns for Arsenal
The latest training session at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Tuesday afternoon revealed fresh worries for Arsenal.
Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey were notable absentees, joining the already sidelined Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Adding to the defensive woes, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White are also unavailable, meaning Arsenal could be without as many as seven key players for Wednesday night’s clash.
Timber and Partey’s absence is particularly concerning, as both featured in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League.
Partey, deployed at right-back, and Timber, at left-back, had stepped into the makeshift defensive line. Their absence raises significant questions about how Mikel Arteta will assemble his backline against Monaco.
Arteta Addresses Injury Concerns
Speaking after the Fulham game, Arteta expressed cautious optimism about the recovery of Gabriel, Calafiori, and Zinchenko.
However, the latest Arsenal injury update casts doubt on their availability. “I hope, but it’s more a question for the doctors and physios to understand where we are,” Arteta said.
“We are missing a lot of players in the backline. The good thing is that whatever we put there, they respond—with good attitude and performance.”
“But we know that when we have consistency there [in defence], it’s a huge advantage. This season is bringing different challenges, and we’re trying to face them.”
Defensive Dilemma
With four defenders—Gabriel, Calafiori, Zinchenko, and Timber—in doubt and both Tomiyasu and White unavailable, Arsenal’s defensive options are severely limited.
Even Partey has filled in at right-back multiple times this season – he could miss the Monaco clash too.
Arteta may have to turn to younger or less experienced players to fill the gaps in his lineup.
One likely option is 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has featured six times already this season, with most of his appearances coming at left-back.
Alternatively, Arteta could turn to Kieran Tierney, who hasn’t featured for the Gunners since the 2023 Community Shield.
