Arsenal duo William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu suffered injuries during their Europa League clash with Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium today.
Tomiyasu was the first to come off after a sliding challenge on Francisco Trincao in the eighth minute. He was down for treatment for some time before he came off for Ben White.
The Gunners took the lead after 19 minutes as Granit Xhaka fired home a rebounded Gabriel Martinelli shot. They led the tie 3-2 on aggregate.
However, their excitement did not last long as Saliba also had to go off. His injury looked like muscle discomfort in his lower back, but the nature of the problem is unclear. Rob Holding replaced him.
The injuries will come as big blows to the north London club as they prepare for the final lap of their Premier League title chase.
Arsenal are chasing their first league title since 2004 and need all the help they can get on the pitch.
They are five points ahead of Manchester City with 11 games left. The race is heating up, but Mikel Arteta’s men are riding high on confidence.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five league games. They have sealed wins against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Everton and Fulham to solidify their title contention.
They welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates on Sunday, looking for three more points in the run-in.
However, the game will not be so straightforward. In the last four league meetings between the Gunners and Palace at home, the north Londoners have drawn three and lost the other.
The game is just as crucial for Crystal Palace manager and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, who is fighting for his job.
The Eagles have been underwhelming this season, and the manager could be sacked if they lose.
