Mikel Arteta confirms full extent of chronic Arsenal injury crisis with 7 missing
Mikel Arteta is set to be without up to seven different Arsenal defenders for Wednesday night's important Champions League clash against Monaco at the Emirates
by Alan Smith · The MirrorMikel Arteta has been dealt two new injury concerns ahead of Arsenal's Champions League meeting with Monaco on Wednesday night after Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey sat out their training session on Tuesday afternoon.
The Gunners boss is expected to name another patched up back four for the vital clash at the Emirates because Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko were also absent from their workout. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still absent with knee injuries.
And the injury crisis means Kieran Tierney could be in line for a shock recall - more than 16 months since his most recent appearance for the club. The Scotland full back appeared as a substitute in the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 6, 2023 before heading to Real Sociedad on loan.
He has been on the bench for Arsenal in recent weeks and the latest injury concerns may see a long-awaited return for the 27-year-old.
Arteta named a ninth different back four in Sunday's 1-1 draw away to Fulham with Partey filling in at right back and Timber moved across to the left and will give his players every opportunity to prove their fitness.
"We have to manage a lot of players. Some of them won't be fit for tomorrow, some of them are still doubts. We have 24 hours to make those decisions. Hopefully we make the right ones.
"It is what it is. We have to accept the challenge and there are opportunities for other players. We need to accept the reality and move forward.
"I'm really happy with how we are playing. I'm happy with how the team is adapting and players are making an effort to play in different positions."
Asked if Tierney could be given a chance, Arteta added: “He’s ready, he’s training really well and he will have an opportunity for sure. He’s earned it for sure. He’s willing to do it. And when that happens we have to give a chance."
Arsenal sit seventh in the table before the sixth round of fixtures get underway - but they are one of seven sides on 10 points, including tomorrow night's opponents. Arteta's men face Dinamo Zagreb at home in early January before concluding the league phase away to Girona.
Monaco are third in Ligue 1, five points behind Paris Saint-Germain, and come into this game off the back of a 2-0 win at home to Toulouse. But head coach Adi Hutter will be without a number of players for the visit to north London.
Centre backs Wilfried Singo and Christian Mawissa are both ruled out through suspension, with Mohammed Salisu and Thilo Kehrer set to start in the middle of defence. And former Arsenal forward Flo Balogun will not face his old side because of a shoulder injury.
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