Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing somewhat of a striker selection dilemma ahead of Thursday's Europa League round of 16 first-leg tie against Sporting CP.
The Spaniard has already had to make do without £45m summer signing Gabriel Jesus for the past three months following knee surgery and now the two immediate alternatives for the Brazil international are carrying knocks as the Gunners return to the European stage.
With Eddie Nketiah already missing from the Arsenal matchday squad for the win over Bournemouth at the weekend because of an ankle problem, things went from bad to worse when Leandro Trossard was forced off in the first-half with a groin issue that was of great concern to Arteta.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has big Kieran Tierney decision amid Arsenal suspension risk for Sporting CP clash
"It is a worry," the Gunners admitted when delivering an update during his post-match press conference. "He came to me and said 'I cannot continue, I felt something when I was tracking back after the corner'. We had to take him off and we have to assess him and see how he is."
Now in a boost for the north London outfit, football.london understands Trossard's injury is not thought to be serious and will continue to be assessed. However, the feeling is that the £21m January transfer window arrival is unlikely to be back in time for Thursday's trip to Lisbon.
An indication as to whether or not the Belgian can travel should come on Wednesday with the squad set to train at London Colney before flying out to Portugal. But should Arteta decide against risking the 28-year-old, he has several immediate replacements to call upon.
It remains to be seen if Nketiah is an option as a late decision will be made as to whether to take him to Lisbon or not, whilst Gabriel Jesus' status is up in the air after being spotted doing a cool down with Arsenal's unused subs after the Bournemouth game. Now whilst he is unlikely to be able to travel to Portugal as he continues to recover from a knee injury, the club have not entirely ruled out the possibility.
Taking all of that into consideration, it means the most obvious candidate to replace Trossard as Arsenal's centre-forward against Sporting CP is Gabriel Martinelli as he took up the role after the Belgian went off against Bournemouth and did fairly well without managing to score for a fourth successive game.
Then there's Emile Smith Rowe. Interestingly, despite a failed experiment with the 22-year-old as a centre-forward in the Europa League semi-final first-leg against Villarreal during the 2020/21 campaign, Arteta named dropped the Gunners' number 10 as another option.
"We have alternatives. Emile can play in that position," he said." We can move players, we have Reiss as well who can give us width and threat in wider areas. We have to assess every opponent. Now we have Lisbon, a really tough match. Let's hope we get one or two players back."
In terms of replacing Trossard in the matchday squad if he doesn't travel, as Arteta is permitted to name 12 substitutes there could be at least one youngster involved. Unfortunately, it would appear that Amario Cozier-Duberry picked up an injury whilst playing for the U21s on Monday night and that may open the door for Charles Sagoe Jr to earn a first senior call-up.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal FA investigation verdict, Reiss Nelson future, Trossard injury, Sporting CP changes
Trossard, Jesus, Nketiah: Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Sporting CP clash
Gabriel Jesus posts social media message amid Arsenal injury return hint and Europa League plan
FA investigating Arsenal celebrations after last-minute Reiss Nelson winner vs Bournemouth
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
