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Mikel Arteta has a nightmare scenario as Arsenal enter the crunch point of their season with a win needed in their last two matches against Newcastle and Everton to confirm a top-four place. This would see Tottenham miss out after they gave their Champions League hopes a kick with the derby win.

Arsenal lost Gabriel Magalhaes at the end of the game due to a muscular injury. He joined Ben White on the list of defenders facing fitness issues with Arteta unable to give any positive update in a press release yesterday.

“It's a good question!” Arteta said when asked about the status of players who might be available including White and Gabriel. “We will know probably more tomorrow, so we wanted to extend this period as much as possible to understand how they are recovering, how they are feeling, assess them and tomorrow probably we will know more about how they are.”

He added: “I could [give you an estimate], but I will probably be telling you whatever! Tomorrow will be the day we will have better answers, probably not the answers that we want until matchday, but hopefully better answers.”

White was on the bench for the match against Spurs, likely in case of Arsenal being in a winning position needing an additional body to hold onto the lead. Unfortunately, this situation never materialised and Arteta preferred instead not to risk him.

In their stead, much