Thomas Vermaelen and Abou Diaby will sit out Arsenal’s Champions League Group H opener against Braga on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger’s men face into a 13th successive Champions League campaign against the Portuguese outfit, who dispatched of Celtic and, more impressively, Sevilla in the qualifiers to get this far.
And they must do so without star defender Vermaelen as the Belgian, who missed the 4-1 Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers at the weekend, continues to be sidelined with an Achilles problem.
France midfielder Diaby joins him on the sidelines after he suffered an ankle injury following a challenge from Bolton’s Paul Robinson in the weekend win.
Samir Nasri could come into the hosts’ midfield for the Emirates Stadium clash, while his fellow Frenchmen Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy could return after being rested against the Trotters.
Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie (both ankle), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) are all still missing.
Elderson and Leandro Salino are both missing for group stage debutants Braga as they are suspended, with goalkeeper Quim out until the New Year after rupturing an Achilles tendon.
Rodrigo Lima, who hit a hat-trick in Seville, should carry the main threat for them, while former Newcastle United winger Hugo Viana was – like Lima – one of 17 summer signings by the ambitious Iberian outfit.
Arsenal (from): Almunia, Clichy, Squillaci, Koscielny, Sagna, Arshavin, Song, Fabregas, Nasri, Rosicky, Chamakh, Fabianski, Wilshere, Gibbs, Eboue, Djourou, Vela, Denilson.