Arsenal's quest to stay top of the Premier League at Christmas faces a significant hurdle at Goodison Park, with a host of key players sidelined for the trip to face Everton on Saturday.
The Gunners, who lead Manchester City by two points, will be without several first-team regulars for their final league outing before the festive period, while the hosts also contend with notable absences.
Everton's Squad Setback
Toffees manager David Moyes delivered a mixed bag of updates ahead of the match. While he confirmed that Jack Grealish is fit and available, the news was less positive for others.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been ruled out, with Moyes admitting the midfielder will be "a big miss". Defender Jarrad Branthwaite remains out with a hamstring issue and is not expected back until the end of January at the earliest.
There is a glimmer of hope regarding Merlin Rohl, who has been upgraded to a doubt after returning to training. However, veteran full-back Seamus Coleman is set for a spell on the sidelines with a fresh hamstring problem.
Furthermore, Everton will be without Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, as both players have departed to represent their nations at the African Cup of Nations.
Arsenal's Defensive Crisis
Mikel Arteta's preparations have been severely impacted, particularly in defence. The Spaniard confirmed a new blow, with Ben White set to miss "a few games" after picking up a fresh injury, though it is not considered major.
He joins fellow defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera on the treatment table. While Gabriel is progressing well in his rehab, Mosquera's absence is described as "much more than what we expected".
In midfield, Max Dowman will be out for weeks after scans revealed an injury sustained last weekend. There is also no imminent return for Kai Havertz, who is still a few weeks away from contention despite making good progress.
Implications for the Festive Fixtures
The extensive injury lists for both sides will test their squad depth during a congested period. Arsenal, aiming to protect their slender lead at the summit, face a tricky away fixture followed by a Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace.
Everton, meanwhile, will hope to capitalise on any Gunners' weakness as they look to reignite their push for European qualification after a defeat to Chelsea. The absence of key personnel on both sides is likely to force tactical adjustments from managers Moyes and Arteta.
With ten players confirmed out and one major doubt, team selection will be pivotal in determining the outcome of this Premier League encounter.
