Mikel Arteta is confronted with an anxious waiting for the fitness of four defenders prior to the first roads of next week's Champions League against Real Madrid.
The Gunners were stimulated by the return of Bukayo Saka, who only scored for seven minutes in his comeback from Arsenal, but they lost Gabriel Magalhaes to an apparent hamstring injury.
The Brazilian defender was only replaced in the game for 16 minutes after he stopped as he sprinted back to his own goal. The middle behind was seen grinning when he was on the grass that held the back of his right leg and was then replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
In the meantime, Jurrien Timber was forced with a knee injury during the 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.
There are also concerns about the fitness of Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori, both of whom missed the match against Fulham, leaving Arteta a potential defense crisis on Tuesday of the crucial collision with Real in the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
In the injuries to his defenders, Arteta said: “Gabi felt something in his hamstring. We don't know how big that is and also with Jurrien. He struggled very early in the game. He managed to continue, at one point he couldn't. So that's the disadvantage of it.
“The good thing is that it has been the case all season. How we have succeeded in where we are with all those injuries, Ben White has not participated this season at all. It is what it is.
“With those four players in the defense line you can introduce yourself in one week. So Calafiori, Ben White, Jurrien and Gabriel. We have another four who are so willing to do their work. We want it so badly that we will really try it and we are very enthusiastic for the following week.”
Arsenal has already sustained a hamstring injuries this season at Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz.
Saka returned to the bank for the competition match on Tuesday, but Arteta has been left to explore new defensive strokes for a crucial period.
Analysis: injuries Sour Arsenal's winning evening
Nick Wright from Sky Sports:
The goal of Saka, with only his fifth touch, scored seven minutes after his introduction, gave a moment to enjoy the home fans, but Gabriel's withdrawal, and that of Hout later in the game, cast a shadow during their night.
Gabriel, whose partnership with William Saliba has become an important asset for Arsenal, looked despondent as he touched around the field and the tunnel. His absence against Real Madrid would be an important blow to the Champions League chances of Arsenal.
It only seems to be the newest in a series of hamstring injuries in front of Mikel Arteta. The Gunners will hope that Gabriel's injury is not as serious as that of Saka, who missed three months, and Kai Havertz, who was excluded for the season after breaking down in February.
The forced replacement of Timber, who had suffered a knock on his knee in the first half, added a concern for Arteta, who also absent the potential loss of four defenders in the space of a few days, with white and calafiori.
How long can Gabriel be out?
Arsenal will desperately hope that Gabriel's hamstring injury is not as serious as that of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz earlier this season.
But even a hamstring injury, a tension or pull where few muscle fibers are damaged, can take two to three weeks to cure.
Gabriel could still rule that length of absence from both legs of Arsenal's Champions League Double header against Real Madrid.
A degree two or three hamstring injury means a tear for the muscle and usually results in months instead of weeks on the sidelines, a possibility that Gabriel could rule for the rest of the season, such as Overtz.
Both Havertz and Saka required surgery, in which Saka only returned to the team for the first time on Tuesday evening and sustained his injury in December.
Arsenal is confronted with Everton and Brentford in the Premier League on either side of next week's first leg collision against Real Madrid on 8 April. The second stage takes place on April 16.
Arteta: Saka lifted the stadium
However, the big positive thing about the night before Arsenal was the return of Saka.
Saka scored on his wounded-comeback against Fulham at the Emirates and ended his 101-day absence when he came from the bank shortly after the hour.
The international England was only on the field for seven minutes when he doubled Arsenal's benefit before going to the Dugout to embrace a member of the club's medical staff during the celebrations.
“I think a great moment to see how much our people love, respect and admire Bukayo,” said Arteta. “He is no surprise for someone of ours and I think the best example is his reaction. Immediately after scoring a goal, what does he do?
“He goes and says thanks for all the hard work that all sports scientific boys, physios and everyone involved in the recovery have done for him to be in the state he is. I think he has lifted the stadium, the energy and great to have him back.”
Saka, Martinelli offers positives in the midst of Arsenal's injury misery
Sky Sports' Nick Wright at the Emirates Stadium:
Saka only needed seven minutes to mark his return to action with a goal. His header of the close-range of the film by Gabriel Martinelli turned out to be decisive in the 2-1 victory of Arsenal over Fulham.
The 23-year-old, who made his first appearance since December after his hamstring injury, had received a delicious reception when he appeared as a replacement, but the parties that followed his goal were something else. “He lifted the energy in the stadium,” said Arteta.
Saka looked sharp and Matinelli, whose acrobatic film from the cross of Mikel Merino to set up the goal of Saka, was one of the five chances created in the game. No one else has made more than two. Fulham struggled to control him on the left flank of Arsenal.
Just like Saka, Martinelli has endured injury problems this season, but his return to form, in combination with the return of Saka, who now has a total of 23 goals and helps in 25 games for Arsenal this season, causes an increase in firepower to the challenges for the challenges.
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