Eight players could miss Club Brugge vs Arsenal as Mikel Arteta handles latest injury crisis

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Mikel Arteta is without two of his best defenders due to injury and Arsenal's injury problems are showing no signs of easing throughout the busy winter schedule

Arsenal's hectic start to December continues this week with the Gunners taking on Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. The Gunners are currently the only team with a 100% record in the competition, having won all five of their matches.

Athletic Club, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague and Bayern Munich have all been beaten this season, with Mikel Arteta's side on course to seal their spot in the next round. Brugge have beaten AS Monaco and drawn 3-3 with Barcelona at home, although they are currently two points behind the play-off spots.

The Gunners travel to Belgium with a number of selection issues - particularly in defence. They continued to be without William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes against Aston Villa on Saturday.

There had been hope that Saliba could feature against Villa Park after Arteta twice said that the centre-back was "days" away. The same was said about Leandro Trossard, and the attacker came off the bench to score against Villa.

Gabriel has been missing since the international break after suffering an adductor injury while playing for Brazil in a friendly against Senegal. The 27-year-old is still unavailable, with Arteta confirming it is a matter of weeks.

Arsenal's problems in defence were compounded by Christian Mosquera being forced off in the victory over Brentford last week. The summer signing's absence meant Arteta was forced to start Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie at centre-back for the first time at Villa.

It has been reported that Mosquera could miss up to six to eight weeks with an ankle injury. Kai Havertz's long-term absence means Arsenal are without four players for the trip to Bruges, a similar number to Brugge.

Nicky Hayen's men are enduring a difficult run of just two wins in their last seven games. They lost ground at the top of the table over the weekend, suffering their fifth loss of the league season, as they fell 3-2 to St. Truiden.

Brugge could be without Ludovit Reis and Lynnt Audoor, with Nordin Jackers and Zaid Abner Romero definitely out.