Mikel Arteta reveals William Saliba and Jurrien Timber injury latest in Arsenal update | OneFootball

Gunners without key defensive pair for dead-rubber Champions League clash

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber have been ruled out of Arsenal’s final Champions League game against Kairat on Wednesday.

But Arsenal hope both players will be fit to face Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday.

There is nothing riding on the Kairat match for Arsenal, who have won all seven of their Champions League games this season and are already guaranteed a top-two finish in the league phase.

Saliba and Timber both completed the full 90 minutes of Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.

But speaking Tuesday, Arteta said: “They've got slight niggles.

"They have some niggles and it is a good opportunity to get them in the best possible condition for the weekend."

In the absence of Timber, Arteta can turn to Ben White at right-back while Cristhian Mosquera is fit again after injury and is likely to partner Gabriel in central defence.

Mikel Merino, who also missed training on Tuesday, cannot feature against Kairat due to suspension after picking up his third yellow card of the league phase against Inter Milan last week.

Declan Rice is also banned, opening the door for Christian Norgaard to earn a rare start in midfield.

Arsenal, though, have been boosted after Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calafiori trained ahead of their Champions League showdown with Kairat.

Havertz has not featured for two weeks since two substitute appearances against Portsmouth and Chelsea following his return from a knee injury.

Calafiori has missed nine games since suffering an injury in the warm-up before the win against Brighton just after Christmas.