Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has delivered updates on the fitness of Jurrien Timber and Ben White ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Everton.
The Gunners' 2-1 triumph over Fulham in midweek came at a significant cost, as Timber suffered a knee issue during the fixture and White was ruled out beforehand having picked up a niggle.
In addition, Gabriel Magalhaes pulled up in the first half with what was recently confirmed to be a serious hamstring injury, one that will require a season-ending operation.
There was less concern about White and Timber's problems at full time, though, and speaking to reporters in his pre-game press conference, Arteta did not rule either man out of the trip to Goodison Park.
"Let's see how Ben and Jurrien are tomorrow, and that's it - we must keep playing and competing the way we have been. There's a chance, yes," the Spaniard told reporters.
Arteta refuses to rule White, Timber out of Everton fixture
© Imago
Timber suffered a knock to his knee in the first half of the clash with the Cottagers but was able to carry on momentarily, while White was a surprise absentee from the squad when the team sheets were released.
The 27-year-old is yet to start a Premier League game since returning from a knee operation in February, although he was involved from the start against PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of Arsenal's Champions League last-16 triumph.
The Gunners' European adventure continues with a blockbuster quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid next Tuesday night, and Arteta was asked whether he would be prepared to risk Timber and White against the Toffees with Los Blancos coming up.
"The problem is that we have a few of those [calls], so we're going to have to decide this evening or tomorrow very early in the morning which players we can play and for how long especially," he added.
While White and Timber are in with a chance of making the trip to Goodison Park, Riccardo Calafiori is still nursing a knee injury and will miss out, while Takehiro Tomiyasu (also knee) will not play again before the campaign is over.
What could Arsenal's defence look like against Everton, Real Madrid?
© Iconsport
Arteta is not one to be totally open and honest when it comes to team news - the Spaniard is no stranger to a smoke and mirrors tactic - but news of White and Timber potentially being fit for the weekend and Real Madrid is a significant fillip.
Had both men been ruled out of the upcoming fixtures, Arteta would have had little choice but to field Thomas Partey at right-back, an experiment that has seldom yielded positive results in the current campaign.
However, the Arsenal boss should be able to keep Partey in midfield next week and field either Timber or White in their familiar right-back role, while the other would be a contender to step into Gabriel's position alongside William Saliba.
Jakub Kiwior is currently first in line to replace the stricken Brazilian and is a natural left-sided option, but the Pole has struggled to convince at the back when given a chance in the current season.
With Timber boasting plentiful experience on the left-hand side, Arteta could have a White-Saliba-Timber-Lewis-Skelly backline at his disposal next week, one that inspires far more confidence than the Partey-Saliba-Kiwior-Lewis-Skelly alternative.
Ben Knapton
