Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will be without four key players for the Champions League clash at Ludogorets on Wednesday night.
The Gunners take on the Bulgarian minnows having thrashed them 6-0 at the Emirates in their last Champions League game and will be heavy favourites to pick up all three points again.
However, they will have to do so without Nacho Monreal, Santi Cazorla, Hector Bellerin and Theo Walcott who have not travelled to Bulgaria for the game.
“Monreal, Cazorla, Bellerin, Walcott are not here. Bellerin had a little incident in training,” Wenger told a pre-match press conference
“We are both attacking sides so this should be an interesting match.”
Wenger had been expected to make changes to his side for the clash against Ludogorets, particularly with the north London derby against Tottenham up next on Sunday.
The Frenchman says he will need to find the right balance for his team and has urged his players to keep their concentration and win the game.
“We must keep a good balance between vigilance and confidence,” he added. “That is what is at stake.
“Our destiny lies in the minds of the players, how strong their focus is and how hungry they are. That starts tomorrow.”
The absences of Monreal and Bellerin suggests that Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs will be handed starts against Ludogorets and the chance to impress and keep their places for the visit of Spurs on Sunday.
Ludogorets have picked up just one point from three games in Group A so far and Arsenal will be expecting to continue their unbeaten run which currently stands at 14 games without defeat.