Former Gunner ruled out of Arsenal-Monaco clash through injury | OneFootball

Folarin Balogun won’t be available to face former club Arsenal with his new team on Wednesday night, having suffered an injury setback with Monaco.

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Just days ago, it looked like former Arsenal academy centre-forward Folarin Balogun would be fit to face his old club with AS Monaco in Wednesday’s Champions League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Balogun had spent over a month out of action with a shoulder injury, but he made his return to the pitch as a substitute in Monaco’s last Champions League game against Benfica, then made a start against Marseille in Ligue 1.

Yet it now appears the striker suffered a setback in that shoulder injury during the Marseille clash.

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Balogun missed Monaco’s weekend game against Toulouse through injury, and he hasn’t travelled with the squad to London for Wednesday’s match against Arsenal.

It’s unclear at this stage how serious the setback is, but it’s evidently enough to keep him out of a return to the Emirates.

Denis Zakaria and Krepin Diatta are also absent from the squad through injury, and Wilfried Singo and Christian Mawissa are out through suspension.

Singo was sent off in the previous game against Benfica, whilst Mawissa picked up a one-game ban with his third yellow card in three Champions League appearances for the team.

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With Singo and Mawissa both out, Mohammed Salisu is likely to partner Thilo Kehrer in central defence. Salisu at least has experience against Arsenal, having faced the Gunners with Southampton in 2022/23.

The rest of the team should be relatively similar to the side that faced Toulouse at the weekend, with Majecki in goal, Vanderson and Caio Henrique at full-back, Camara, Matazo, and Minamino in midfield, Akliouche and Golovin on the wings, and Ilenikhena up front.

Possible changes to that team include Ben Seghir coming in for Golovin (he’s started four of Monaco’s five Champions League games so far), and Breel Embolo starting up front (he’s started all five).

Soungoutou Magassa may also come into the midfield, but he missed the game at the weekend so that might be a risk. If he does, he’d likely replace Matazo.

Predicted Monaco lineup vs Arsenal