Arsenal take on Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday night at the Emirates.
The Gunners will be without the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz for the visit of the European Champions.
Mikel Arteta will likely be forced to pick Jakub Kiwior at the heart of the North Londoners’ defence, and the Pole will have to deal with the elusive Kylian Mbappe.
However, Real Madrid have their own injury concerns to contend with, as Carlo Ancelotti’s squad travel to the British capital without several key players.
Real Madrid injury and suspension news ahead of Arsenal clash
Four Real Madrid players were under investigation for their ‘indecent conduct’ during Los Blancos’ tie against Atletico Madrid in the last round of the Champions League.
However, all four players have been cleared to face Arsenal in the last eight.
That said, Dani Ceballos, who was one of the four at risk of a ban, won’t be available to take on his former club at the Emirates, as he remains sidelined with a muscular problem.
The midfielder joins a list of six absentees for Real Madrid ahead of the European showdown.
Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are both out for the season with serious knee injuries, while Ferland Mendy will also miss the trip to North London with a muscular issue.
Meanwhile, back-up goalkeeper Andriy Lunin won’t feature due to a minor calf strain and Aurelien Tchouameni misses out due to suspension.
The Frenchman picked up his third Champions League booking of the season in the first leg against Atletico.
Predicted Real Madrid line-up vs Arsenal
Arsenal may be in a defensive injury crisis, but Real Madrid’s situation is arguably as bleak.
Missing their two first-choice full-backs, Ancelotti will have to name something of a makeshift back-line, with Federico Valverde and Francisco Garcia expected to be deployed in these roles.
Ceballos and Tchouameni’s absences likely mean 39-year-old Luka Modric will start in the middle of the park, alongside Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.
Up front, Mbappe will start with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo either side of him.
It’s still a star-studded cast Ancelotti can call upon, but it’s also a team Arsenal can exploit defensively.
Predicted Real Madrid line-up: Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia, Camavinga, Modric, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.