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7 hours ago
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Arsenal are back in the European reckoning as they reached their first Champions League semifinal since 2009.
The Gunners are gearing up to face Paris Saint-Germain for a place in the final. Before that, they received a wake-up call in the Premier League with a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Ahead of their crucial midweek clash, Mikel Arteta is in a dilemma as two players are doubtful for the match against the French outfit this Tuesday.
Neither Mikel Merino nor Ben White featured in the 2-2 draw against Palace. The Spanish manager revealed that both players missed the game after suffering knocks in the previous Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town where they won 4-0.
However, the Gunners missed Merino's toughness in midfield as they conceded their lead twice in the game due to silly errors. Even the availability of White would hand Arteta more options in defence, strengthening his backline against a potent attacking threat from PSG.
It will be a big blow for the North Londoners if the Spanish midfielder gets ruled out. The 28-year-old was Arteta's trump card this season as he stepped up as a makeshift striker due to Arsenal's injury issues.
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To everyone's surprise, the Spain international did exceedingly well as he has scored six goals and provided two assists in 25 league outings this season.
He also scored a goal in the first leg against Real Madrid whilst turning provider twice over the two legs.
What did Mikel Arteta say about the two players?
The Spanish manager gave nothing away after the Crystal Palace game about Merino and White's availability in the midweek European fixture. “We’ll have to wait and see, they weren’t able to be in the squad today," Arteta highlighted.
Arsenal desperately need Merino's versatility against a team like PSG. Even his durability and combative nature in midfield would add great value to the Gunners.
On the other hand, White was out on the sidelines for a prolonged period with a knee injury. He recently returned to action after going under the knife in November last year.
Arteta was slowly integrating him back into match fitness and was expected to reclaim his spot in the backline. However, this setback has undone all the good work done by the English defender.
Injuries have plagued Arsenal throughout the season, and it is one of the primary reasons why the North Londoners got derailed from the Premier League title race.
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