Arsenal without four players for Bodo/Glimt clash

Arsenal are set to be without four players when they take on Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League group stage on Thursday night.

The Gunners currently have a 100 per cent record in their group, having won their opening two fixtures against Zurich and Bodo.

They will be aiming to extend the run tomorrow but ahead of the game, manager Mikel Arteta will be without at least four players.

Mohamed Elneny is a long-term absentee following his hamstring injury sustained against Fulham in August.

Alongside him, Emith Smile Rowe is sidelined until December, having undergone a surgery to repair a damaged tendon in his groin.

Apart from the duo, Oleksandr Zinchenko is also set to miss out. He sustained a fresh calf injury prior to the reverse meeting against Bodo.

At the weekend, Arteta said that the Ukraine international would be assessed in the coming days, but there has since been no update whatsoever.

The Gunners boss has, however, confirmed that Gabriel Jesus has not travelled to Norway, having skipped training with the group recently.

The Brazilian suffered a blow to his head in the recent 3-2 win over Liverpool while he was also spotted limping in the post-match video shown.

Despite this, he has not suffered any injury and Arteta revealed that the £58.5 million-rated star is only being rested for the European trip.

He said via football.london: “We thought that with everything he’s been through in the last few weeks it was better that he stayed at home.”

Arteta is widely expected to rotate his starting line-up again for the Europa League. It could be a maximum of three regular starters once more.

Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka have started the last two European games and Arteta may persist with them in the XI.

The Gunners comfortably won 3-0 against Bodo at the Emirates, but can’t take things for granted and must be focused for tomorrow’s challenge.

Bodo impressed with their second-half display last week without scoring, but they should turn up with a much better showing in front of their fans.