All of Mikel Arteta, Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky, Yaya Sanogo and Abou Diaby are injured ahead of Arsenal’s tough Champions League opener against Marseille on Wednesday night.
Fortunately for the Gunners, their in-form French striker, Olivier Giroud, has declared himself fit for the game, after limping out of their 3-1 weekend win at Sunderland with a knee injury.
Arsenal will be able to field a strong starting line-up, especially following Mesut Ozil’s explosive start to life at the club.
But even Giroud admits that the team is looking skeletal for what could be a tricky test in the Stade Velodrome.
"We're a really united squad and everyone works for the team," said Giroud.
"That's good, we have a quality squad but I'm a bit scared about the numbers we have in the squad.
“We will face problems because of the numbers in our squad. But we'll do everything we can to rival the big clubs."
Regardless of the size of their squad, it is vital for Arsenal to get off to a positive start, if they are to progress from their daunting Champions League group.
With Borussia Dortmund and Napoli the other two teams they will battle against, Marseille are arguably Arsenal’s easiest opponents.
And so Wenger knows maximum efforts is required from his charges at the outset.
"If you look at the group, it is the hardest because all four teams have a chance to qualify, that means every game is very important, and on average you need 10 points to qualify, so that gives you the task," he said.
"We have a good away record – we have always been very audacious away. Sometimes at home, through some spells last season, we played a bit with the handbrake because we have not had the same confidence at the Emirates that we have away from home. But we will always try to play."
Read: Uefa Champions League Draw
Read: Napoli v Dortmund, Nice & Delicious
Vote: Can Arsenal survive the group of death?
