Gunners count the cost of Brentford draw as key players face fitness doubts before quarter-final second leg
Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday evening may have dented their Premier League ambitions, but it’s the potential fallout for their Champions League campaign that’s sounding alarm bells in North London.
As the Gunners prepare for a decisive second-leg showdown against Real Madrid on Wednesday, they now face the unsettling prospect of going into the match without several key players — including Thomas Partey, Jorginho, and Ben White — all of whom are battling fresh injury concerns.
The Emirates faithful were left frustrated as Arsenal squandered a lead gifted by a Thomas Partey strike, only for Yoane Wissa to equalise for Brentford. But while the dropped points widened the gap to league leaders Liverpool, it’s the more pressing issue of squad depth and fitness that could prove most costly in Europe.
Manager Mikel Arteta revealed after the match that Ben White, a vital part of Arsenal’s backline, was left out of the squad entirely due to discomfort felt after training.
“Ben felt something again post-training,” Arteta said. “We don’t know if he’ll be fit for Madrid. We have to wait and see.”
Worse yet, both Jorginho and Partey were forced off the pitch mid-game. Jorginho was visibly in distress, with Arteta confirming a rib issue might be the cause:
“He said he couldn’t breathe properly. That’s very unusual for him, so it must be something significant.”
Partey, who had been instrumental in Arsenal’s early momentum, also had to be withdrawn after feeling an unexplained issue.
“We didn’t expect it. He felt something, and we didn’t want to take risks,” Arteta added. “We’ll wait on the doctor’s assessment.”
To make matters worse, Gabriel Martinelli narrowly avoided what could have been a serious injury following a reckless tackle by Brentford’s Christian Norgaard.
“If my foot was on the ground, he could’ve broken my leg,” Martinelli told Sky Sports. “He said it wasn’t intentional, and I believe him — but for me, it was a red.”
While Norgaard escaped with a yellow, the challenge could have added yet another name to Arsenal’s growing list of injury doubts ahead of a game that could define their season.
The one bright spot — albeit fleeting — came from Kieran Tierney, who thought he had marked his return to the starting XI with a goal. However, his header was quickly ruled out by the semi-automated offside system.
With Real Madrid looming and Arsenal needing a sharp, fully fit squad to stand a chance, Arteta’s injury-riddled side now face an uphill battle — not just on the pitch, but in the treatment room.
Wednesday’s clash at the Bernabéu was always going to be a test of character and quality. Now, it may also be a test of resilience and depth.
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