Arsenal simply cannot afford to drop points when they take on Nottingham Forest in their Premier League showdown on Wednesday.
Defeat to West Ham United on Saturday served as a hugely damaging blow with Liverpool easing past Manchester City the following day to go 11 points clear at the top.
While the Gunners do have a game in hand, more setbacks at this stage would surely signal the end.
They face a tough trip to Forest who are looking to bounce back after their 4-3 defeat to Newcastle United. Six points separate Arsenal and Forest ahead of kick off with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side desperate to hold onto that Champions League spot.
Arsenal’s injury situation shows no sign of improving with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli not expected to return from hamstring injuries until March.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out for the rest of the season with the Mikel Merino experiment up top failing to work against the Hammers.
There was concern for Ethan Nwaneri, moved into a more advanced role in the absence of his more senior teammates, after he was spotted limping on Saturday before replaced in the second-half.
Mikel Arteta however suggested it was likely fatigue slowing down the 17-year-old.
Saka and Martinelli meanwhile will also be doubts for Arsenal’s Champions League last 16 tie against PSV Eindhoven, which begins with the first leg away in Netherlands next Tuesday.
Myles Lewis-Skelly will miss the midweek trip to Forest as a result of the red card shown to him against West Ham.
Defence is the one area of the pitch where Arsenal are relatively well-stocked with Ben White back to fitness. Takehiro Tomiyasu remains sidelined having undergone surgery which will rule of him out for the rest of the campaign.
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal kicks off at 7:30pm on Wednesday 26 February.
The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2 with a live stream available through the Discovery+ app.
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