Mikel Arteta has expressed concern over the mounting injury problems facing his Arsenal squad, emphasizing the challenges they must overcome in the coming weeks. Bukayo Saka appears unlikely to feature against Liverpool on Sunday, having been omitted from the team that narrowly defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday. The team is already grappling with a string of fitness issues that have sidelined key players, including captain Martin Odegaard. Saka’s absence adds to the pressure as Arsenal prepares for a critical series of fixtures.
Riccardo Calafiori’s injury during the match against Shakhtar adds another layer to Arsenal’s troubles. Calafiori, who joined the club over the summer, has faced recurring issues and had to leave the field midway through the second half. He appeared to have twisted his knee, requiring assistance from the medical staff before being substituted with Myles Lewis-Skelly. Despite controlling much of the game, Arsenal struggled to secure their victory after Leandro Trossard missed a penalty.
Mikel Arteta said, “I don’t know, sorry, he wasn’t able to train yet so that’s unlikely. Ben, it was my decision to take him out. He had a yellow and we had enough playing 10 men in the last period.”
Ongoing injury concerns mean Arsenal remains without the services of Jurrien Timber, who like Saka was not part of the squad against Shakhtar. While Timber did not join his national team during the international break unlike Saka, his absence poses additional challenges for Arteta. Mikel Merino filled in for Ben White, and although Gabriel Jesus participated for nearly 70 minutes, he appeared to struggle with movement in the first half. William Saliba completed the match but will miss the crucial encounter with Liverpool after receiving a red card against Bournemouth.
