As Arsenal ramp up preparations for their decisive UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, the Gunners were dealt a worrying blow during Monday's training session. Four key first-team players—Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Mikel Merino, and Jurrien Timber—were all absent, casting serious doubt over their availability for Tuesday's crucial clash at the Emirates Stadium.
The tie hangs in the balance after a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital last week. Arsenal will feel they should have secured an advantage after a late penalty for a foul on Eberechi Eze was controversially overturned. Now, with the second leg looming, Mikel Arteta's squad depth faces its sternest test yet.
The quartet's absence from training continues a worrying trend, as all four were also ruled out of Arsenal's impressive 3-0 Premier League victory over Fulham at the weekend. That dominant performance, however, showed the squad's resilience—something they'll need in abundance against a battle-hardened Atletico side.
There was a moment of confusion last week when Arteta initially suggested Merino had traveled to Madrid for the first leg, only to backtrack in his pre-match press conference. Meanwhile, the potential return of Dutch international Timber would have been a massive boost for the Gunners' backline, but his continued absence from training suggests he's not yet ready.
Speaking ahead of the Fulham match, Arteta offered a cautious update: "Let's see how everybody is tomorrow morning. Obviously, we haven't been able to train much, so tomorrow we will have a final update. Kai and Jurrien will be out."
Havertz's situation is particularly concerning. The German international limped off during the victory over Newcastle United, and despite Arteta's earlier optimism about his availability for the second leg, he was nowhere to be seen on the training pitch.
With Arteta scheduled to face the media on Monday, all eyes will be on his injury update. For a team chasing Champions League glory, every player counts—and the Gunners will be hoping for some positive news ahead of one of their biggest games of the season.