Arsenal is facing a defensive headache ahead of their Champions League clash with Monaco, as key players Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, and Gabriel Magalhães were all missing from training.
With Gabriel still sidelined, along with Riccardo Calafiori, and Oleksandr Zinchenko injured after last weekend’s match against Fulham, Mikel Arteta’s defensive options are becoming increasingly limited.
Partey and Timber, both crucial to Arsenal’s defensive setup, were notably absent from Tuesday’s training session. Arteta will address the media at 3:30 pm, where an injury update is expected.
The Arsenal boss is already without Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, leaving Partey to fill in at right-back in recent matches, while Timber has been shifted to the left side to cover for Calafiori.
Gabriel, who was forced off during the 5-2 win over West Ham in late November due to a knock, has missed the last two games, contributing to the mounting defensive issues.
In his pre-match comments, Arteta expressed hope that Gabriel, Calafiori, and Zinchenko could return for Wednesday’s fixture but emphasized that the medical team would have the final say.
He acknowledged the challenge posed by missing so many defenders but praised the resilience of the players who have stepped in.
Despite the injuries, Arsenal’s defense has shown commendable spirit, and Arteta is optimistic about continuing their strong performances, having won four consecutive games before the 2-2 draw with Fulham on Sunday.
Arsenal will be looking to bounce back and continue their push in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Arsenal’s injury luck is terrible this season! Losing so many defenders at once is a huge blow.