Arsenal take a massive double defensive blow as ‘William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko are ruled out for the rest of the season with injury’ to add to the Gunners’ Premier League title challenge
- Slaiba has not played since March and is struggling with a back injury
- Zinchenko was withdrawn early in the weekend’s game with a calf problem
- Neither player is expected to require surgery for their respective issues
William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko are ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury in Arsenal’s final blow to their Premier League title hopes, according to a report.
Saliba has been absent from Arsenal since early March as he struggled with a back problem, although there were hopes he would be fit to play for the Gunners ahead of the game.
However, he has lost the race to do so and will not play for the team again until next season after an impressive season before his injury.
Zinchenko has struggled with several injuries this season and his latest has ruled him out for what is left of it, with the calf problem he suffered against Newcastle this weekend proving significant.
According to The athleticneither player will need surgery for their respective issues, but will have to wait until next year to put on a red shirt again.
William Saliba (right) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (left) are ruled out for Arsenal for the rest of the season
Salbia has been absent from Arsenal since March with a back injury, while Zinchenko suffered a calf injury last weekend
Arsenal are three points behind Manchester City, who have one game in hand, in their race to win the Premier League this season.
They have three games left to try to lift their first trophy since 2004, and it looked like they would continue to do so after building a significant lead over City as the run-up approached.
But Saliba’s absence coincided with the Gunners’ decline in form, sending them back into the clutches of City and below them in the table.
Mikel Arteta will have to motivate his team for three more games in their fight for the Premier League title
Kieran Tierney will likely replace Zinchenko for the Gunners for the remainder of the campaign
Mikel Arteta’s struggles to replace the Frenchman, he started Rob Holding in his place before dropping him and opting for Jakub Kiwior instead.
Zinchenko, meanwhile, has made 33 appearances for Arsenal since joining the club from City this summer.
He has helped the side’s development tactically, playing a reverse midfield role for the side in possession, but his fitness issues have limited his impact.
Kieran Tierney is likely to play at left-back for the side for the rest of the season, taking on Brighton next weekend before taking on Nottingham Forest and Wolves in the final two.
