LONDON – It really is just one of those seasons for Arsenal. Even as Bukayo Saka brought a radiant burst of joy back to the Emirates, storm clouds crackled on the horizon. Kylian Mbappe and company are a week out, and now injuries have struck.

Gabriel Magalhaes has been sidelined after a strain, and Jurrien Timber has also fallen victim to injuries just before their crucial match against Real Madrid.

“We don’t know how big that is,” said Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta. “If there are two players in this team who never want to come off it is those two probably.”

The loss of both key defenders raises serious questions about Arsenal’s defensive capabilities ahead of their showdown with the European giants.