Arsenal dealt a huge injury blow as Partey and Timber misses training

Mikel Arteta provides the latest Arsenal injury news ahead of the Champions League match against Monaco at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s preparations for their crucial Champions League clash against Monaco have been dealt a significant blow, with Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber missing the latest training session. This development adds to the growing list of absentees, leaving manager Mikel Arteta with a challenging task of assembling a competitive squad.

Partey and Timber’s absence from training on Tuesday has raised serious concerns about their availability for the upcoming match. Both players have been pivotal in Arsenal’s recent fixtures, with Partey often deployed at right-back and Timber filling in at left-back due to other injuries in the squad. Their potential unavailability compounds the defensive crisis Arsenal is currently facing.

The Gunners are already without several key defenders, including Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. This has left Arteta with limited options at the back, forcing him to consider less experienced players or tactical adjustments to cover the gaps.

Arteta acknowledged the severity of the situation, expressing cautious optimism about the recovery of some players but also highlighting the uncertainty surrounding their fitness. “We have to manage a lot of the players. 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,” Arteta said.

With Partey and Timber potentially sidelined, Arteta may have to turn to younger players like Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has featured several times this season, or rely on Kieran Tierney, who has recently returned from a hamstring injury. The manager’s ability to adapt and find effective solutions will be crucial in navigating this challenging period.