Arsenal is anxious to know whether Mikel Merino and Ben White will be available against Paris Saint-Germain for the semi-finals of the Champions League next week.
The Gunners have most of the time a week between the games after the 2-2 draw on Wednesday evening with Crystal Palace, which had to be brought up for a few days due to the FA Cup obligations of the Eagles.
However, there is still no word about whether Merino or White will make the short hops from the French capital to London the next Tuesday evening.
Both players were absent in the squad against the palace, and when Mikel Arteta was asked whether there would be a blow to the next game, he could not confirm anything. “We have to wait and see because they couldn’t be in the squad here,” he said.
Any kind of longer absence from Merino would be a significant blow to Arsenal. The Gunners have pretty much come across his ability to play as a “wrong nine” and to do an admirable task since February, to fill for Kai Havertz, in the absence of an actual striker.
Merino played in the role every 180 minutes of the quarter -finals against Real Madrid, scored at home in the first leg and helped return to Spain.
White still has to get a regular place since he returned from a long-term knee injury in February, but is the first alternative for Jurrien Timber in the right-back and has also played a role in both Madrid games.
Arsenal is already triggered by suspension for the first PSG encounter without Thomas Partey after his unnecessary late yellow card, after the Madrid Unit had already won. Due to a rib injury, Jorginho is also a great doubt that leaves Areteta light in midfield.
If he is fit, Merino could actually fall into a more familiar deeper role in covering the defect and leaving position no. 9 for Leandro Trossard, who scored Arsenal’s second goal against Palace. Oleksandr Zinchenko would be another option, although he spent a large part of the season on the bench.
Arsenal has been competing with his first semi -finals of the Champions League for 16 years and trying to only achieve a second final in competition. Her only different last appearance ended in 2006 with a late comeback defeat against Barcelona after led most of the game despite a player deficit.