Arsenal could have up to seven defensive players missing for their Champions League clash with Monaco this week. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is facing another injury crisis just weeks after welcoming back several key stars.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are long-term absentees. A further four defenders plus Thomas Partey, who can play right-back, missed today's (Tuesday) training session.
Jurrien Timber was a surprise exclusion from the session. The Dutchman played 90 minutes in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Fulham on Saturday. He has struggled with a muscular issue this term.
Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko also missed out having been sidelined for the weekend's Premier League match. Arteta, who is usually coy on the conditions of his players, will be asked for an update on Partey and Timber during his pre-match press conference later today.
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If both are ruled out of Monaco's visit to the Emirates Stadium then Arteta would be without six senior defenders, plus Partey who has filled in at right-back. The Ghana international played in the position during the draw with Fulham.
Timber moved to left-back for that game and it is unclear who would play in the role if the former Ajax man is not fit. Arteta could call upon Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has played on the left of the back four this season. There is also the possibility that Kieran Tierney could make a first Arsenal appearance since May 2023.
Confirming Zinchenko as the latest addition to Arsenal’s treatment room, Arteta said on Saturday: “He got injured as well unfortunately so we are missing four left full-backs. Adapt[ing] is the sort of thing you have to go through in a season and I am sure we will be fine.”
Centre-back Gabriel has missed Arsenal's last two games since being withdrawn at half-time in the 5-2 victory over West Ham. Versatile summer signing Calafiori has not featured since he hobbled off during the same game.
Asked at the weekend if he expected to have some of the defenders back to face Monaco, Arteta said: “I hope, but it’s more a question for the doctors and physios to understand where we are.
“We are missing a lot of players in the backline. The good thing is that whatever we put there they respond. They respond with a good attitude and performance.
“We know that when we have consistency there [in defence] how much it’s giving us. That’s a different season. It’s bringing different challenges. We’re trying to face them and we’re going to continue in that direction.”
