[5-3-2]: More defenders, strong midfielder and less Attackers- Arsenal predicted lineup against Real Madrid after Arteta confirms five defenders will start in the quest to stop Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr

Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

This really has been a cursed campaign for the Gunners. With Manchester City falling off, it was Mikel Arteta’s time to win the Premier League, but injuries have hit Arsenal badly.

Gabriel Magalhaes is the latest Arsenal player to be ruled out for the remainder of the season, with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz already out for the campaign.

With the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid coming up on Tuesday, there could be more players missing in what would be a huge blow for Arteta and his dreams of beating the Galacticos.

Here’s a closer look at Arsenal’s injury situation.

Seven Arsenal players could miss Real Madrid clash due to injury

Arsenal have had so many injury issues to deal with this season.

Arteta hasn’t had a fully fit squad available at his disposal at any point this term, but Arsenal have still managed to stay second in the Premier League and make it into the quarter-final of the Champions League.

Now, ahead of the clash against Real Madrid, there is more bad news – especially in defence.

“We’ve lost four players in the defensive line in one week,” Arteta said after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday night.

Riccardo Calafiori suffered a knee injury while on international duty with Italy, while Ben White was ruled out of the clash due to a knee issue of his own. Gabriel and Jurrien Timber came off injured during the Fulham game.

Gabriel is definitely out, and there is a chance that Calafiori, Timber and White could miss the clash against the European champions too.

Add Havertz, Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu into the list and the Gunners could be without seven key players for the biggest game of the season.

How Arsenal could line-up vs Real Madrid with seven players out injured

Arsenal’s issues for most of this season have been in their attack, but now, Arteta has to find solutions for problems in his backline.

David Raya is almost guaranteed to start, as are William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly. We expect Jakub Kiwior to take up the other centre-back spot with Thomas Partey moving to right-back.

Declan Rice and Jorginho could start in midfield behind Martin Odegaard, who will likely have a trio of Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka ahead of him.

How Arsenal could line-up vs Real Madrid: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Merino, Saka.