Arsenal prepare to host Brentford in a crucial midweek Premier League fixture tonight, with manager Mikel Arteta grappling with significant defensive absences. The Gunners are sweating on the fitness of key centre-back William Saliba ahead of the clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Defensive Crisis for Arteta
The heart of Arsenal's defence has been severely disrupted. William Saliba is a major doubt after picking up a knock in training prior to last Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The French international missed that ill-tempered London derby as a result.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Arteta did not completely rule Saliba out but offered a cautious update. The manager suggested it would be a "matter of days" before the defender shakes off the minor issue, leaving his participation against the Bees in serious question.
Compounding the problem is the continued absence of Gabriel Magalhaes, who is sidelined with a thigh injury. The Brazilian is not expected to return until late December. This forced Arteta to field a makeshift central defensive pairing of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie against Chelsea, a duo he may have to rely on once more.
Injury Updates Across the Squad
There is some defensive cover available, with Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber both fit to play at centre-half. Full-back options include Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White, ready to provide cover on the left and right flank respectively.
In attack, Leandro Trossard remains a doubt after also missing the Chelsea match. The Belgian was forced off in the first half against Bayern Munich last week, though his injury is not considered serious.
There was positive news as striker Viktor Gyokeres returned to action after a four-game absence on Sunday. He will be hopeful of reclaiming his starting spot from Mikel Merino, who has deputised admirably in his place.
However, the situation surrounding Kai Havertz remains unclear. The German forward has not featured since the opening weekend of the season after undergoing what the club termed 'minor' knee surgery in August. Despite earlier hopes of a return around the November international break or for the Chelsea game, Arteta now states Havertz is still "weeks away" from a comeback.
Predicted Lineup and Rotation Plans
Arteta has welcomed Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli back from injury in recent weeks, giving him more options to rotate his squad. With a difficult trip to in-form Aston Villa looming on Saturday, the manager may be tempted to manage minutes for some key players.
Odegaard will be hoping to return to the starting eleven, with Eberechi Eze having played plenty of football since the international break. Should the game be going to plan, Arteta may also look to give Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka a lighter evening to keep them fresh for the weekend.
The match kicks off at 7:30pm on Wednesday 3 December and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Subscribers can also stream the action via the Sky Go app or NOW TV.
