Arsenal Dealt Injury Blow Ahead Of PSG Clash

Arsenal look like they could be hit with a double injury blow ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, according to RMC Sport.

Domestically, it has been another nearly season for Arsenal, who look set to finish second in the Premier League for the third consecutive campaign. Mikel Arteta has returned the Gunners to a position of competing for honours, but has not lifted any silverware as a manager since the 2019 FA Cup.

Given that Arsenal exited both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup before the final of each competition, their hopes of silverware rest solely on the Champions League. The Gunners reached the semi-finals after a stunning win over Real Madrid and have since, at the time of writing, played the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG, under Luis Enrique’s management, are regarded, rightly so, as one of the best teams in the world. The Spaniard has implemented a style of complete fluidity with the Parisians, which can make attacking players like Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue almost impossible to mark.

Already 1-0 down heading to the second leg in Paris, it would seem Arsenal could now be at an even further disadvantage.

As per RMC Sport, Jurrien Timber is a “major doubt” for Arsenal’s second leg in Paris. The Dutchman has been a consistent part of Arsenal’s first team this season, having recovered well from the long-term injury he suffered in his maiden campaign.

Timber, however, recently picked up a knock that saw the defender, comfortable either as a centre-back or full-back, miss Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League. Given the match was just days before his side’s semi-final second leg, on Timber, Arteta said:

“Confident (that he’ll play)? Not at the moment, because he wasn’t able to play (against Bournemouth)”

Elsewhere on the pitch, captain Martin Odegaard may also be forced to miss the second leg. Though he played against the Cherries in the Premier League recently, the Norwegian limped off the pitch at the game’s conclusion, sparking worries that the midfielder may be absent for Arsenal’s next European game. Odegaard, according to RMC Sport, “appears to be doing well” in the immediate aftermath of his potential injury.

Given the injuries that the Gunners have suffered throughout the campaign, the last thing they need is two further absences in a duo of Odegaard and Timber who, according to Salary Sport, earn £335,000 per week between them, as they hope to overturn their one-goal deficit and push on to the Champions League final.

Givemesport.com