Arsenal have no time to dwell on Thursday's Europa League exit as their Premier League title challenge resumes this weekend against struggling Crystal Palace.
The Gunners fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat to Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium after drawing 3-3 on aggregate. The result rules out the possibility of a possible double for Mikel Arteta's side but they are still in a mouth-watering title race with Manchester City
With 11 games remaining, the north Londoners lead Pep Guardiola's men by five points. This weekend presents an opportunity for the Gunners to go eight points clear due to City's participation in the FA Cup.
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Despite winning their last four league games, Arsenal come into this weekend's visit of Palace on the receiving end of two major blows. Both Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba were forced off in the first-half of the Europa League defeat due to injury.
Tomiyasu had restored his place in defence but limped off after ten minutes with a suspected knee injury. Not long later, Saliba followed the Japan international back into the changing room with a lower back injury.
Asked how they were after the defeat, Arteta said: "I don't know. Tomiyasu looks pretty serious from his reaction straight and what he said to me, obviously, it's very early.
"Willy? I don't know, he had some discomfort and could not continue so we had to take him out."
The double blow in defence has compounded the unfortunate news that Eddie Nketiah would remain sidelined for a few more weeks. The Hale End striker has been missing since the 4-0 win over Everton after filling in for Jesus after the World Cup.
Despite initial hope he may return to the squad before the international break, Arteta confirmed earlier this week that that would not be the case. "It's getting better. He's still in the [protective] boot," the Gunners boss told the media.
"He's still a few weeks away and we need to be patient. It was a nasty injury and he has a big challenge ahead of him. Thank God it's not as bad as it could have been."
Saliba, Tomiyasu and Nketiah all join Mohamed Elneny in the medical room at London Colney. The Egyptian has been injured since January with a club statement confirmed he would be out for an extended period of time.
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