Arsenal Hit by Double Blow as Key Defensive Duo Ruled Out for Rest of Season

Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title has been dealt a significant blow with the news that key players William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko will miss the rest of the season due to injury.

As reported by The Athletic , both Saliba and Zinchenko have picked up injuries that will prevent them from featuring in any more matches for the Gunners this season.

Saliba suffered a back injury during Arsenal’s Europa League last-16 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in March, which has already caused him to miss eight crucial first-team fixtures. This is a significant loss for Arsenal, as the Frenchman had been a regular presence in the team, having made 33 appearances earlier in the campaign.

In the absence of Saliba, Rob Holding was initially deployed alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, but the 25-year-old defender’s poor performances led to Jakub Kiwior being given a chance to impress in recent victories against Chelsea and Newcastle.

Kiwior, who joined the club in January, patiently waited for his chance to start in the Premier League, and his performances have impressed the Arsenal faithful, adding some much-needed solidity to the defence.

Meanwhile, left-back Zinchenko was forced off the pitch during Arsenal’s recent triumph over Newcastle at St James’ Park due to a calf injury, which looks set to keep him out of action for the rest of the campaign. The Ukrainian international has been a regular fixture in the team and will be missed by Arsenal.

In his absence, Kieran Tierney was brought in to replace him, but the Scottish international has only started five top-flight matches this season, which raises questions about his future at the club.

Arsenal will need to regroup quickly and find a way to compensate for the loss of these key players if they hope to maintain their title challenge. The Gunners are currently in a fierce battle for the Premier League crown and can’t afford to drop points in the coming matches.