UCL: Arsenal suffer double injury blow ahead of Real Madrid’s game

Jorginho and Partey are doubtful to feature in the second leg of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid on Wednesday after sustaining injuries against Brentford.

Arsenal’s faint hopes of catching runaway leaders Liverpool were denied after Partey’s opener was cancelled out by Wissa.

The Gunners were held back by Brentford after struggling to match the intensity that blew Real Madrid away in their 3-0 Champions League win on Tuesday.

With the second leg of that quarter-final tie looming on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta has been faced with a double-injury blow as he could be without both Jorginho and Thomas Partey at the Santiago Bernabeu after the duo were forced off in the closing minutes against the Bees.

Jorginho started on Saturday after Arteta made five changes to the team that faced ‘Los Blancos’ midweek, but the Italian midfielder went off with a shoulder injury that forced the second-placed Premier League side to play the final minutes with 10 men.

“I don’t know. He said he could not breathe properly, so it might be to do with one of the ribs,” Arteta told reporters after the 1-1 draw at the Emirates. “It is strange because Jorgi normally carries on, so that means it is something significant, I think.”

The Spanish manager also expressed concern over Partey, who was replaced by Timber in the second half after opening the scoring. “We didn’t expect the issue with Thomas that we had to take him out,” he said. “He felt something, so we didn’t want to take any risks.”

Partey started against Real Madrid midweek, but Arteta refused to comment on the former Atletico player’s chances to feature in the second leg until medical tests are carried out. “We don’t know, I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet. So they will check him now and see how he is.”