LONDON – Mikel Arteta is facing a significant challenge ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho both injured during their recent 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Partey had to be substituted in the 69th minute after scoring, raising concerns about his fitness due to a potential muscular issue. Arteta mentioned that Partey ‘felt something,’ but refused to elaborate further.

Shortly after, Jorginho also left the pitch, expressing discomfort, leading to Arsenal playing the last minutes of the match with only 10 players.

Arteta explained, ‘He said he could not breathe properly; it might be due to an issue with one of his ribs. Normally, Jorgi pushes through, so it indicates a significant problem.’

Losing either of these key midfielders could complicate Arsenal’s tactics against Real Madrid, already a challenging opponent.

In addition to Partey and Jorginho’s injuries, Ben White has also been declared unavailable after picking up a knock during training. Arteta stated, ‘He wasn’t fit enough to be part of the squad today, but we have a few days to assess the situation.’

This season has been fraught with injury troubles for Arsenal, with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka among the players missing significant time. Gabriel has already been ruled out for the rest of the season, complicating Arteta’s lineup options as they prepare for their crucial upcoming match.