Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has ruled Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard out of Sunday's Premier League London derby with Fulham.
The Gunners have been starved of options in the centre-forward role in recent weeks, as Jesus enters the final stages of his recovery from knee surgery.
The Brazil international was involved in team training before Thursday's 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League, but he ultimately did not make the squad for the first leg of that last-16 tie.
Meanwhile, Nketiah has been dealing with a sore ankle for the past couple of weeks, while Trossard sustained a groin injury in last weekend's 3-2 victory over Bournemouth.
Speaking to arsenal.com ahead of Sunday's trip to Craven Cottage, Arteta revealed that none of Jesus, Nketiah or Trossard would be available, but the former is edging increasingly closer to a comeback.
"Eddie [Nketiah] is out as well, so we have Gabby [Jesus] out, Eddie out and Leo [Trossard] out," Arteta said. "We have to adapt at this period of the season. We can play with a winger more as a nine, or a false nine. We will see."
Elaborating on Jesus's recovery, Arteta expressed his hope that the Brazilian would be fit again in a matter of days rather than weeks, potentially putting him in line for a comeback before the international break.
"He had a bad injury and he's been really pushing the boundaries and trying to get that recovery as quick and smooth as possible," Arteta added.
"The reality is when he's started to do some activities, he's still feeling that he needs a little bit of time. Is it a matter of days? Hopefully yes, more than a matter of weeks. The moment he is ready, he will be thrown onto the field.
"The timescale that he had has been respected and it's now more about his feelings, and when he actually demands he wants to be part of it."
Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney both missed the midweek draw with Sporting due to illness, and neither man was pictured in team training on Saturday, but Arteta remains hopeful that they can play.
Victory for Arsenal on Sunday would see them become the first team in history to win five successive London derbies with five clean sheets in the English Football League, but Arteta has admitted that his side must sharpen up at set-pieces to make that dream a reality.
"We are conceding some set plays, we are conceding a lot in games," Arteta said. "We conceded two goals against Bournemouth and against Sporting. If you want to be at the top, winning and winning and winning, you need clean sheets.
"We've been really good at preventing chances but not good enough in the last two weeks, and doing the right things in the box."
Arsenal entered the weekend still five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, but that lead will be reduced if the champions avoid defeat against Crystal Palace. body check tags ::
