William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko will not play again this season for Arsenal in a huge blow to their Premier League title hopes.
The Gunners are in the midst of a surprise title challenge, sitting one point behind table-toppers Manchester City with just three matches left to play. If they are to overturn the deficit at the top of the table, they’ll have to do it without star defenders Saliba and Zinchenko.
Saliba has been out of action with a back injury since hobbling off in Arsenal’s UEFA Europa League defeat to Sporting CP back in mid-March, with his team’s form noticeably dipping since he was ruled out.
Forced to field Rob Holding in defence in his absence – and the better performing Jakib Kiwior in recent games – the Gunners have only kept one clean sheet since Saliba’s injury and dropped nine vital points which could end up costing them the title.
Zinchenko is a more recent injury concern, having picked up a calf injury during Arsenal’s impressive 2-0 win over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon. The ex-Man City man was subbed off with the ailment in the 61st minute of the game.
How Arsenal could line up without Saliba and Zinchenko
After Holding put in a number of disasterclasses after Saliba first went down with his injury, the much more impressive Polish defender Kiwior has deputised and is expected to do so moving forward.
The Gunners have looked much, much, more solid with the 23-year-old flanking Gabriel in recent weeks, even helping his team keep a very noteworthy clean sheet at St. James’ Park.
Out at left-back, Arsenal perhaps have the best second option in the Premier League. Kieran Tierney is a quality option on that flank and, while he doesn’t play the ‘inverted’ role in the same way Zinchenko does, he slots into the back four nicely and provides class and composure in a side looking to keep their cool between now and the season’s end.