Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is sweating over the availability of a few doubts ahead of Wednesday's Premier League showdown with Manchester United at the Emirates.
The Gunners lost all of Mikel Merino, Thomas Partey and Myles Lewis-Skelly to injury before the 5-2 thrashing of West Ham United at the weekend, where Gabriel Magalhaes had to be withdrawn at the break.
The Brazilian was taken off moments after being whacked in the head by Lukasz Fabianski, winning a penalty in the process, but his substitution was related to the previous problem he had picked up against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League rather than for concussion reasons.
Gabriel and the aforementioned absent trio are all uncertain for the visit of the Red Devils at the time of writing, while Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are definitely unavailable due to knee injuries.
Gabriel was a surprise starter at the London Stadium anyway following his UCL injury, so Arteta may now consider promoting Jakub Kiwior to the first XI, especially after singing his praises at the weekend.
Riccardo Calafiori was an early withdrawal at West Ham too, but that was simply a precautionary measure, so the Italian is expected to be given the all-clear to join Kiwior, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and David Raya at the back.
Unless Partey or Merino can make rapid recoveries, Jorginho should anchor an unchanged midfield also comprising Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, but a straight swap on the left could see Leandro Trossard give way for Gabriel Martinelli.
However, neither Kai Havertz nor Bukayo Saka should be at risk of dropping out; the latter has been directly involved in five Premier League goals versus Man United, three of his own and two assists.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
> Click here to see how Man United could line up for this match
Ben Knapton
