ARSENAL have suffered a huge blow to their title hopes as two of their key men were sidelined for the rest of the season.
Centre-half William Saliba and left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko have both played a huge role in the Gunners’ success this term.
However, now Mikel Arteta’s side will have to go into the final Premier League run-in without the pair due to injury.
Frenchman Saliba, 22, has been a rock at the back alongside Gabriel this term but suffered a back injury in the Europa League defeat to Sporting Lisbon in March.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian international Zinchenko hurt his calf in the 2-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday.
Now Arteta has discovered that neither of them will return to full fitness before the final game of the season on Sunday 28 May.
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However, the pair are not expected to require surgery.
Saliba has been absent for Arsenal’s last eight matches, including a sticky run of games that led to them dropping points last month that handed rivals Manchester City the advantage at the top of the table.
He had made 33 appearances in all competitions for the North London club before his setback.
Zinchenko, who arrived at the Emirates from City last summer, has also played 33 times.
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Scottish international Kieran Tierney will step in and deputise in his absence while Rob Holding was originally partnering Gabriel after Saliba’s injury.
However, Poland international Jakub Kiwior has started the last two games, which were victories over Chelsea and Newcastle.
Right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu is also out and could be sidelined for another six months after undergoing a major knee operation in March.
Arsenal are next in action against Brighton at home on Sunday and have two games left after that.
They go into the weekend trailing leaders City by a point and having played one more than Pep Guardiola’s team.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
