Mikel Arteta's preparations for Arsenal's crucial London derby against Chelsea have been dealt a significant blow with several key players racing against time to be fit for Saturday's encounter.
The Gunners face mounting injury concerns as captain Martin Ødegaard joins the growing list of doubts following their Champions League victory over Sevilla. The Norwegian playmaker missed training on Thursday, casting serious doubts over his availability for the weekend clash.
Growing Treatment Room Concerns
Arteta revealed the extent of Arsenal's fitness crisis during his pre-match press conference, confirming: "We have a few doubts. We have a training session later today and we'll see how they are. We have some late decisions to make."
The situation appears particularly concerning in defence, where William Saliba remains a major doubt after missing the midweek European fixture. His potential absence could force another reshuffle in Arsenal's back line.
Attack Also Feeling the Strain
Further up the pitch, the news doesn't get much better for the North London outfit. Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus is also undergoing assessment after being substituted during the Sevilla match, adding to Arteta's selection headaches.
While Bukayo Saka completed the full 90 minutes in Spain and is expected to feature, the cumulative effect of these absences could significantly impact Arsenal's attacking potency against a resurgent Chelsea side.
Timing Couldn't Be Worse
These injury setbacks arrive at arguably the worst possible moment for Arteta's men, who face a Chelsea team finally finding their rhythm under Mauricio Pochettino. The Blues have shown marked improvement in recent weeks, making this derby encounter even more challenging for an depleted Arsenal squad.
With the Premier League title race heating up and every point precious, Arteta will be desperately hoping for positive news from his medical team before making the final team selection.
