Arsenal take on Standard Liege in the Europa League on Thursday and Freddie Ljungberg could be without six of their best players.
The first two injuries are to the two regular full-backs – Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney.
Bellerin picked up a hamstring injury right before Arsenal’s game against West Ham United and it looks like Spaniard will not be a part of the Europa League game on Thursday. And during the match, it was Tierney who injured his shoulder and had to be replaced by Sead Kolasinac.
It is still unclear as to how fit Bellerin is but Tierney has suffered a dislocated shoulder meaning he is ruled out both for midweek as well as the Manchester City game during the weekend.
“Of course, it’s[the injuries] not good,” the interim manager said in his pre-match press conference.
“We got one in the warm-up at West Ham, another full-back in the game. It’s one of those freak things. one is to the head, another is the shoulder in a tackle.
“We can’t do much about it, obviously it puts a strain on the squad but that’s how it is.”
🗞 Our latest team news report has updates on the following…
▪️ Hector Bellerin
▪️ Dani Ceballos
▪️ Rob Holding
▪️ Nicolas Pepe
▪️ Kieran Tierney
▪️ Granit Xhaka— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 11, 2019
Apart from these two players, midfielder Granit Xhaka and Nicolas Pepe also picked up injuries last weekend and remain a doubt for the Standard Liege game.
Xhaka suffered a head injury and will hopefully not play any part on Thursday while Pepe picked up a bruised knee and Ljungberg would surely want to keep him protected for the Man City clash.
The manager added: “It’s just one of those freak things. One is to the head [Granit Xhaka] and one is a shoulder [Kieran Tierney] in a tackle.
You can’t do much about it, but of course, it puts a strain on the squad. But that’s how it is.”
And updating on Pepe’s condition, the Gunners official website wrote: “Bruising to knee sustained. Will be assessed ahead of Manchester City.”
Apart from these players, defender Rob Holding and midfielder Dani Ceballos remain long-term injury absentees for Arsenal.
