Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny both remain doubts for Arsenal's Premier League trip to Newcastle United on Saturday, manager Arsene Wenger told a news conference.
Arsenal were without both his first-choice central defenders for Monday night's 0-0 draw at home to Liverpool, and they are struggling to be fit for St James' Park.
Mertesacker has been battling a chest infection and Koscielny is sidelined with a back injury.
TEAM NEWS: "@mertesacker is still ill and we will know more about @6_LKOSCIELNY after he has a test." #NUFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/z8vCBx5M5B
- Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) August 27, 2015
Asked if both players would be available at the weekend, Wenger said: "I don't know. Mertesacker is still sick and we will know more about Koscielny today.
"He might have a test on his back and I will certainly know more tomorrow morning. The less likely to be fit is Mertesacker. I would like them to be available but that's part of the season, and you can't complain about that.''
Calum Chambers and Gabriel formed a makeshift partnership for Arsenal against Liverpool, but both players endured a testing opening period and the Gunners were fortunate to head into the interval with the scores still level.
"It was a game of two halves for us defensively,'' Wenger added. "In the first half we gave the chances away to Liverpool to score and in both halves we created chances.
"We could not finish so we have a little deficit comparing the chances we created and our finishing qualities at the moment but that will come back. Defensively we suffered in the first half but in the second half we didn't give any chances away.''
Arsenal have fired blanks in both of their home games this season. Wenger's side also failed to score in three of their final four games at the Emirates Stadium last term.
The Frenchman is on the lookout for a new striker before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, but Wenger admits he is not close to finalising a deal for any player.
"I am always confident that a last-minute situation or solution is available, because the transfer market is especially moving in the last four or five days,'' Wenger said.
"But at the moment I cannot promise you that. We work very hard, you know I have a team around me who work day and night to find good solutions but at the moment we are not close to signing anyone.
"Finishing qualities come and go and you do not always know why, but certainly at the moment we want it so much at home that we're trying to force it a little bit.''