Mikel Arteta faces new injury problems as seven Arsenal players are absent from training.

Arsenal fans will have their eyes glued to the screen on Wednesday as Mikel Arteta's side prepares to take on Monaco in the Champions League. However, the team is facing some challenges, particularly in the defense department. Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber were both missing from training ahead of the match, and they were joined by Gabriel Magalhaes, who is still recovering from an injury.

This is not the first time Arteta has had to deal with defensive absences. In the last two games, he was without key players Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori, and last weekend, Oleksandr Zinchenko also joined the injured list. The trio was not spotted during Tuesday's training session, which has raised concerns among fans. Arteta is expected to provide an injury update during his press conference later this afternoon at 3:30 pm.

With Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu also sidelined, Partey has been filling in at right-back in recent weeks. On the other hand, Timber, who has been impressive in various defensive roles this season, has been shifted to the left to cover for Calafiori. Both Gabriel and Calafiori were forced off during the 5-2 win against West Ham United at the end of November. Gabriel, in particular, has been absent from the team's last two games due to a knock he sustained in the previous match against Sporting Lisbon.

When asked about the possible return of Calafiori, Gabriel, and Zinchenko for Wednesday's match, Arteta expressed hope but stated that it is ultimately up to the doctors and physios to determine their fitness. He also highlighted the challenges faced by the team due to numerous injuries in the backline but praised the players for their positive attitude and performance in the face of adversity.

Meanwhile, Timber has been a standout performer this season, contributing significantly to the team's success. Arteta acknowledged his contributions and emphasized the importance of consistency in the defense. Despite the challenges, the team has been on a winning streak, scoring 15 goals in four consecutive victories over Nottingham Forest, Sporting, West Ham, and Manchester United. However, their winning run was broken by Fulham last Sunday, hindering their chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, whose match against Everton was postponed.

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