Arsenal still have a mathematical chance of playing European football next season after last week’s disappointing Europa League semifinal exit against Villarreal.
But injuries to top guns Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette ahead of tonight’s 9.15pm trip to Chelsea are threatening to make their kanse minder.
Currently in ninth place on the Premier League log, Arsenal are four points behind seventh-placed Tottenham, and subsequently a Europa League playoff spot, with three games to go.
Victory in the London derby will go a long way in strengthening their chances of not missing out on European action for the first time since 1995/96.
But they will need new heroes to step up if Aubameyang, who was left on the bench for Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League win over West Brom, and Lacazette, who came on for Gabriel Martinelli, are ruled out.
Asked if they will return for tonight’s showdown, Arteta says: “We have to see, there were some issues over the weekend again.
“Yes [there were] some injuries, yes.”
He adds of possibly making it to Europe: “Winning is going to put us in a much better position in the table... the chance to finish is mathematically possible, but it doesn’t depend on us at the moment.
“They [Chelsea] have been the best team in the league in the last few months.”
Arteta and his team won’t get any sympathy from Blues star Kai Havertz, who is keen to build momentum ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Leicester and secure a top-four league finish.
The German says: “It’s very important that we keep the momentum, because there are more big games coming.
“Arsenal are also fighting for a European place. It’s a London derby, so they will be very motivated.”