Arsenal have a rather extensive injury list ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, as manager Mikel Arteta could be without five to six players.
While Chelsea manager Frank Lampard will have two of his crucial first-team members, N’Golo Kante and Willian, available for tomorrow’s final, Arteta will arguably have a smaller pool of players to pick from.
Chelsea will be without Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who picked up a small injury problem, but Arsenal could be without five to six players for the London derby.
Four players are definitely out for this game and the remaining games of the season; Callum Chambers (knee), Gabriel Martinelli (knee), Pablo Mari (ankle) and Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring) (Arsenal’s official website).
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 3")
While their first-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno is unlikely to play for in the final ahead of in-form Emiliano Martinez despite having already been back in training.
A player in Arsenal’s recent injury list who could feature against Chelsea is Hector Bellerin.
The Spain international missed Arsenal’s last two games against Aston Villa and Watford due to a calf injury, and it remains unclear whether he will be fit enough to start.
Arteta would surely have liked to have these players, particularly Martinelli who scored against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January and Leno, as they look to secure a Europa League spot and lift some silverware.
While for Chelsea, who have already qualified for the Champions League next season, this final will be about the trophy and keeping the club’s winning mentality.
“This is a game that means a lot to us,” Lampard stressed during his press conference (via Chelsea’s official website).
“It means everything to us.”
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