Arsenal's squad depth will be tested to its limits this weekend as a mounting injury crisis threatens to derail their early-season momentum.
The Gunners are set to face Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but they will do so without several key players, including a number of their biggest stars.
The most recent and significant setback came with news that star defender William Saliba will miss several games after twisting his ankle during the warm-up for the recent match against Liverpool.
The French international, who has been a pillar of the Arsenal defence, tried to play through the issue but was forced off after only five minutes.
Saliba's absence adds to an already lengthy injury list.
Fan favourite Bukayo Saka is also sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered against Leeds. While not as severe as a previous hamstring issue, he is expected to miss a few weeks, and manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly stated that Saka's return to the starting XI is not a given, with new signing Piero Hincapie potentially vying for his position.
The midfield has also taken a hit, as new arrival Kai Havertz required minor knee surgery and is expected to be out for "many, many weeks."
The long-term absence of Gabriel Jesus continues, though there is a glimmer of hope as he has been seen doing on-ball work in training as he recovers from an ACL injury.
Ben White, who missed the last two matches with a knock, is a possibility to return to the squad against Forest.
In transfer news, the club has continued to see player movement. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior have both left on loan deals to Nottingham Forest and Porto, respectively.
There are also reports that Arsenal has granted Declan Rice's transfer plea and has submitted a contract renewal offer to William Saliba, indicating a long-term commitment despite his current injury.
With a depleted squad, the upcoming clash against Nottingham Forest is shaping up to be a true test of Arsenal's resilience and the depth of their summer signings. The spotlight will be on players like Piero Hincapie and Viktor Gyokeres to step up and fill the void left by their injured teammates..
