Eliminated from the FA Cup, Arsenal has found the last FIFA Date to be extremely long... until they were able to return to action in the Premier League with a victory over Fulham that keeps their hopes alive for the title. However, just a week before facing Real Madrid in the Champions League, all alarms have gone off at the Emirates due to the dramatic situation their defense is experiencing with injuries.

Arsenal loses two starting defenders

Before the match started, Arsenal was already dealing with the absences of Tomiyasu, Ben White, and Calafiori due to injuries. Three significant absences, to which two more key players for Mikel Arteta were added last night. After the first quarter of an hour in the game, Gabriel had to ask for a substitution after causing a scare in the first half. Jurrien Timber also had to be substituted in the final stretch of the match.

We are talking about two of the five players who have played the most minutes for Arsenal this season and key members of the second-best defense in Europe, only behind Atlético de Madrid. It's no surprise that Arteta was concerned after the match. “We don’t know how they’ll be. We’ll evaluate them tomorrow (today) to better understand how we’re doing. There are two players in this team who never want to come off, and they are those two.”

The only good news for Arsenal before playing against Real Madrid

A dramatic situation for Arsenal just days before facing Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, only offset by the return to the field of Bukayo Saka after more than three months. Moreover, he scored the goal that would later give Arsenal the victory over Fulham after just seven minutes on the field. A return that certainly brings some hope to Arsenal.

“The goal was a beautiful moment. You could see how many people love, respect, and admire Bukayo. It’s no surprise to any of us. He lifted the stadium, generated energy, and it’s great to have him back,” said Mikel Arteta in a press conference, unable to hide his emotion at having his best player back... despite fully knowing the defense situation is absolutely dramatic.