Arsenal hit with fresh injury doubts ahead of PSG showdown | OneFootball

Arsenal Injury Update: Mikel Arteta Faces Fitness Concerns Ahead of PSG Clash

Injury Issues Cast Shadow Over Arsenal’s European Ambitions

As Arsenal prepare for the most significant European fixture of their modern era, they do so under a cloud of uncertainty. Manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Ben White and Mikel Merino are injury doubts ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain. Neither featured in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace midweek, and both were absent from the matchday squad entirely.

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“They couldn’t be involved – if not they would have been,” Arteta explained. “Unfortunately, after the game [against Ipswich] we had some issues and they are not fit.” When pressed on their potential availability for PSG, the Arsenal boss was cautious: “We’ll have to wait and see, they weren’t able to be in the squad today.”

It is an update that has Arsenal fans glancing nervously at the treatment room once again.

Tactical Repercussions of Merino and White Absences

While White’s absence is a setback, it is the potential loss of Mikel Merino that could have deeper tactical implications. Since February, the Spanish international has been operating as a makeshift forward, stepping into the attacking void created by an injury crisis that has left Arsenal without a natural number nine.

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His adaptation has been impressive, most notably in the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid, where he scored once and provided two assists over both legs. Against a technically sharp PSG side, Merino’s absence would not just be about lost goals or assists, but the structural balance and transitional control he brings in the final third.

In White’s case, Arsenal had found some rhythm with Jurrien Timber covering at right-back, though Wednesday’s draw against Palace exposed vulnerabilities. Timber was part of a disjointed backline that conceded twice, the second goal stemming from a rare lapse by William Saliba.

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Arteta Frustrated by Palace Performance

Arteta did not mince words post-match, acknowledging that his team were well below the level required, both technically and mentally.

“Disappointed with the results and with the performance as well,” he said. “We always had the feeling that yeah, we had the ball, we had possession, we went in front twice, but the game wasn’t grabbed, it wasn’t dominated and controlled in the way that we normally do because we were below the standards in some areas.”

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It’s a reminder of the fine margins at this stage of the season. Arsenal have been thrilling at times, methodical at others, but success in Europe is a different animal entirely. And right now, Arteta needs more than just moments of quality—he needs resilience and depth.

Pressure Mounts with Semi-Final on Horizon

With PSG looming, Arsenal’s situation is delicate. An away leg in Paris without two crucial figures could disrupt the rhythm that has carried them through this competition. The uncertainty around White and Merino adds an unwanted layer of instability at precisely the wrong moment.

Yet there is still time. Arteta’s remarks suggest neither injury is season-ending, and medical assessments in the coming days will dictate the strategy.

For now, Arsenal fans must hold their breath—and hope their side’s depth and tactical clarity can weather the storm.