5 first-team Arsenal players miss training ahead of UCL clash against Monaco: Reports
Arsenal have reportedly trained without five first-team players ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Monaco on Wednesday (December 11). The Gunners are heading into this tie on the back of a 1-1 draw against Fulham on December 8.
As per Kaya Kaynak of Football London (via @afcstuff on X), Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Thomas Partey are the five players. Seeing some of the names mentioned on this list isn't surprising, given the likes of Zinchenko, Gabriel and Calafiori failed to feature on the team sheet during last weekend's clash.
On the other hand, Timber and Partey completed the full 90 against the Cottagers. It will be a significant blow for Mikel Arteta if he is to be without both of these stars for the upcoming Champions League tie.
The Ghana international featured at right-back in the absence of the injured Ben White. Partey himself is a makeshift defender in this position, and the north Londoners will be short of options in this area if he is to miss this tie.
Timber played at left-back against Fulham and his absence may be a slightly lesser concern. While the Gunners may be without Zinchenko in midweek, they could turn to Kieran Tierney to fill in. The Scotland international has played 124 matches across competitions for Arsenal, bagging five goals and 13 assists.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is the other option at left-back, a player who has already made two appearances in the Champions League this campaign.
Mikel Arteta addresses Arsenal's injury concerns at the back after Fulham clash
Mikel Arteta was asked about the fitness of Gabriel, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori following Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday. Given his importance in set-piece situations, the first of these players may seem a huge loss for the north London outfit.
The Brazilian has netted four goals in 19 appearances this campaign, all of which have come from his head. When asked about the aforementioned trio, Arteta said (via the club's official website):
"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."
Calafiori is another major blow, given he is a starter at left-back. Zinchenko's loss would hurt more in this situation because he could've covered in the left-sided full-back area.