Arsenal stars, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jakub Kiwior, missed their final training session before Sunday’s Premier League home game against Aston Villa.
The Gunners go into the game sitting in second place on the table, following Manchester City’s 5-1 humiliation of Luton Town on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s men have the chance to reclaim top spot with victory over Villa.
Meanwhile, Arteta appears to suffer two defensive injury blow for the game against Unai Emery’s side.
Gabriel, who has been nursing an Achilles issue over the last month, was absent from the training session on Friday and was not seen with his team-mates for their final preparations at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Kiwior, who was taken off at halftime in the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, was also missing.
Takehiro Tomiyasu trained and could deputise at centre-back in Gabriel’s absence, while Oleksandr Zinchenko, who replaced Kiwior in the draw against Bayern, is also available.
On the other side, Villa will be without their influential midfielder Douglas Luiz for their trip to Arsenal as he is serving a suspension.
Emery’s side currently sit fourth in the Premier League, level with Tottenham on 60 points but with a superior goal difference.
However, Villa have registered just a win in their last five Premier League games.
Emery has also dismissed suggestions that he has an advantage having previously managed Arsenal.
“Not really, I think it’s a different context, different circumstances
“It’s not really something more than playing against them, with the difficultly we are going to face and respecting them,” the Villa coach said.
