Arsenal’s season largely rests on this week’s Champions League showdown against Real Madrid.
Any distant hopes of winning the Premier League title surely faded for good after Arsenal drew 1-1 with Everton on Saturday, with Iliman Ndiaye’s controversial penalty cancelling out Leandro Trossard’s opener.
The Gunners are way off the pace in the Premier League table and must overcome the European champions if they are going to stand a chance of claiming any silverware this season.
Madrid will have Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger available despite their recent punishment from UEFA, with the duo facing a one-game ban if they are found guilty of similar behavouir in the next 12 months following their celebrations after Real beat rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties in the last 16.
As if facing Los Blancos was not hard enough anyway, Mikel Arteta’s side remain without a number of key players for the game at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest Arsenal injury news.
Mikel Merino
Concern was raised when the versatile Mikel Merino was spotted pulling up in the warm-up at Goodison Park.
The Spanish international then required treatment following a clash of heads against the Toffees.
However, Arteta has confirmed Merino is “fine” despite finishing the game wearing a bandage.
“(Merino) is fine, I just checked with the doctor,” revealed Arteta. “He had a cut, so he was bleeding quite a lot in the first half, then he started again, so overall he wasn’t feeling anything.”
Potential return date: Tuesday April 8 vs Real Madrid
Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori’s injury-hit first season as an Arsenal player has continued.
Last month, Calafiori suffered a knee injury while playing for Italy. The defender’s left knee appeared to buckle under him during Italy’s Nations League quarter-final defeat to Germany and he was released from their camp shortly after.
Arteta has confirmed the defender is facing “weeks” out.
Potential return date: Unknown
Gabriel
Arsenal’s rotten luck on the injury front continued last week.
Defender Gabriel Magalhaes has arguably been their standout player this season but will sadly play no further part.
Arsenal have confirmed Gabriel will miss the rest of the season after surgery on a hamstring injury sustained during their win over Fulham.
An Arsenal statement read: “Further to being substituted during our match against Fulham on Tuesday, we can confirm that Gabriel Magalhaes has sustained a hamstring injury which requires surgery.
“Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season.”
