Arsenal’s relentless December schedule continues with a crucial Champions League trip to Club Brugge.
The Gunners will be looking to shake off their disappointment at Villa Park, where they lost the game in the dying moments.
With the last kick of the game, Emi Buendia scored the winner for Aston Villa, as the Gunners suffered their second loss of the season.
Now, they will be looking to shrug off their disappointment and try to keep their impressive record in the Champions League.
However, Mikel Arteta’s squad arrives in Belgium carrying several worrying injury concerns.
The Gunners remain the only side with a perfect record in the competition after victories over Athletic Club, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague, and Bayern Munich.
But their defensive depth has been severely tested.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes both missed the defeat at Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Now, the hopes of a Saliba return have faded despite Arteta repeatedly insisting the defender was only “days” away.
Leandro Trossard did make it back to score at Villa Park, but Gabriel remains sidelined with an adductor problem sustained during Brazil duty.
Arteta has now accepted that the 27-year-old will be out for “weeks” rather than days.
Arsenal’s situation worsened when Christian Mosquera limped off against Brentford with what is feared to be a six-to-eight-week ankle injury.
That setback forced Arteta to pair Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie at centre-back for the first time at Villa Park.
With Kai Havertz also unavailable long-term, Arsenal travel to Bruges missing four key players.
Arsenal remain favourites, but the mounting injury list has created a level of uncertainty. So, Arteta will aim to finish the group stage with a flawless record.
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