The Gunners are in the midst of something of an injury crisis at full back. Senior right backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both long term absentees, while Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey were both absent from full training on Tuesday.
Timber’s absence also impacts the left back position where Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko were absent from training. Gabriel meanwhile is missing with a muscle problem. None are thought to be long-term issues, but Arteta has admitted there is a chance that all five could miss out on Wednesday night.
“We have to manage a lot of the players,” the Spaniard said in his pre-match press conference. “Some of them probably aren’t going to be fit. Some are still a doubt. We have 24 hours to make a decision and hopefully it’ll be the right ones.”
Kieran Tierney has returned to training in recent weeks after nearly six months out with a hamstring injury. The Scottish international could be in line to make his first European appearance for Arsenal since November 2022. Arteta has insisted that he’s ready to start despite the lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“Yeah he’s ready and training really well and he’s going to have an opportunity for sure the way the team is looking at the moment,” Arteta said. “He’s going to do that for that reason and because he’s earned it.
