Arsenal could be missing six stars for Man Utd clash after key trio suffer fresh blow

Arsenal are gearing up for a titanic Premier League clash against Manchester United, riding high on a wave of success with 13 goals in their last three matches post-international break. The Gunners have been unstoppable, demolishing Nottingham Forest and West Ham, while also securing a victory over Sporting Lisbon.

With Martin Odegaard back to his playmaking best and Bukayo Saka dazzling on the pitch, Arsenal have soared to second place in the league standings.

They’re set to welcome United to their home turf on Wednesday, facing a rejuvenated squad under the guidance of Ruben Amorim. United’s recent 4-0 rout of Everton, featuring doubles from Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee, is sure to have them brimming with confidence as they head to north London.

However, Arsenal’s formidable form could be tested by a spate of injuries, with six key players potentially sidelined. Among them, Gabriel Magalhaes’ availability hangs in the balance; the central defender has been instrumental in recent victories but was forced off in the last two outings due to an ongoing injury concern.

Gabriel’s contributions included goals against Sporting and West Ham before he had to leave the pitch. After a collision with Lukasz Fabianski that led to a penalty on Saturday, Mikel Arteta clarified the substitution wasn’t due to concussion protocols.

“It was related to the previous injury he had in Lisbon,” Arteta said. “Obviously, he did great to be part of that but with that result and with the niggle that he’s feeling, we decided to take him off.”

Gabriel has sparked hope among Arsenal fans that he could be in the starting line-up against Manchester United, after posting on Instagram: “+3 [points] and we continue fighting together! ! Thanks for your support Gunners! ! See you on Wednesday!” alongside a bicep and red heart emoji. However, whether Gabriel plays or not, Mikel Arteta faces defensive issues with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White definitely out of action.

Tomiyasu has been battling a knee injury all season, while White is sidelined for several months following a knee injury last month. Another worry is Riccardo Calafiori, who was substituted by Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 56th minute at West Ham.

According to Arteta, the Italian has been “dealing with little niggles in the last few weeks” and given the short gap between games, is a doubt for the United match. There are also concerns over midfielders Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey, both of whom missed the West Ham victory.

“Unfortunately they both picked [up] an injury and the game came too early and they couldn’t be part of the squad,” Arteta revealed. Merino has a knee issue, while Partey’s injury is muscle-related.

Arteta is known for playing his cards close to his chest regarding injury updates before matches, but he may provide some clarity on the six players mentioned above during his pre-match press conference at 1.30pm on Tuesday.