Real Madrid vs Arsenal: Concerns for Arteta As 8 Players Set to Miss Champions League Clash
- Arsenal thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at Emirates Stadium
- The Gunners will be without eight key players from their squad, who have been sidelined due to various injuries
- Real Madrid will host Mikel Arteta's men at the Santiago Bernabéu for the second leg, hoping to overturn the deficit
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After securing a commanding 3-0 victory over La Liga giants Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, Arsenal will face Los Blancos tonight at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg of the encounter.
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Two stunning free-kick goals from Declan Rice and a late strike from Mikel Merino were the only weapons manager Arteta needed to silence the Whites at Emirates Stadium.
However, the Gunners will face the 15-time Champions League winners without eight of their key first-team players.
Eight players from the Gunners squad are currently recovering from injuries, and they will miss tonight's clash against Real
Arsenal players set to miss UCL clash vs Real Madrid
Mikel Arteta has faced several English Premier League fixtures without key defenders, strikers, and midfielders, all of whom have been sidelined due to injuries.
The list of injured players includes Jorginho. He was sent off during the Gunners' clash with Brentford after being pushed. His absence is believed to be due to chest-related injuries.
The Gunners’ right-back, Takehiro Tomiyasu, who joined the club in 2021 from Italian side Bologna, will also miss the clash as he is currently nursing a knee injury.
Former Chelsea star Kai Havertz, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, will be on the bench tonight as Arsenal take on the Whites.
The 25-year-old sustained the injury during Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai earlier this year and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Arsenal’s defensive line will also be without Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori. The 22-year-old sustained a knee injury in March during Italy’s UEFA Nations League match against Germany.
He was released from international duty and returned to Arsenal for treatment.
For a while now, Mikel Arteta has been relying on Spanish sensation Merino as a makeshift striker due to the unavailability of Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, who are key strikers for Arsenal.
Gabriel Jesus suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his left knee during an FA Cup match against Manchester United.
Arsenal’s defensive midfielder, Thomas Partey, is currently being assessed by the medical team to determine whether he can start for the team today.
The Ghanaian international was substituted during their 1-1 draw with Brentford after he collapsed on the pitch.
Source: Getty Images
Luis Enrique names the team he would like to face in the UCL semis
TUKO.co.ke had earlier reported that PSG manager Luis Enrique hinted at the team he would like to face in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
He stated he had no preference for who reaches the semi-finals, adding that he would enjoy the matches and look forward to facing either an English or Spanish team.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
