Mikel Arteta gives Arsenal damage replace with SEVEN stars lacking – and divulges forgotten defender is ‘prepared’ to make first look in 16 MONTHS
- Arsenal welcome Monaco to the Emirates in Champions League on Wednesday
- The Gunners could be missing as many as seven first team players for the clash
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When it comes to injuries, Mikel Arteta is the master of deception. If there’s a possible advantage to be had, he will duck injury-related questions with the nimbleness of a boxer.
Yet, ahead of Arsenal‘s Champions League match against Monaco on Wednesday, stringing a backline together could well be a challenge in itself.
Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber all missed training on Tuesday. That adds to the long-term omissions of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White.
He said: ‘We have to manage a lot of the players. Some of them are probably not going to be fit for tomorrow, some of them are still a doubt. We still have 24 hours to make the right decisions – and hopefully the right one.’
The defensive injury crisis brings forgotten man Kieran Tierney into the picture. The 27-year-old left back has long been out of Arteta’s plans, having been loaned to Real Sociedad last season before suffering an injury during the Euros which scuppered any potential exit.
Tierney last played for the Gunners over a year ago in the Community Shield match against Manchester City in August.
Mikel Arteta could be without as many as seven first-team players for the visit of Monaco
Jurrien Timber (pictured) and Thomas Partey were unable to participate in training on Tuesday
Kieran Tierney could be make his first appearance for the Gunners in 16 months on Wednesday
‘He’s ready. He’s trained really well and he’s going to have an opportunity for sure,’ said Arteta.
‘The way the team is looking (with injuries) at the moment, he’s going to do that (play) for that reason and because he’s earned it as well. The way he’s behaved, the way he’s been with us, because he’s willing to do it, and when that happens you have to give opportunities to those kind of players.’
On Monaco, who were once managed by Arsene Wenger and had Thierry Henry as a player, he added: ‘I think we have a really good link with Arsene, with Thierry as well. There is a big history there. It’s a very special club, a very special place. We welcome them here and hopefully be better than them and try to win again.’
