Mikel Arteta admitted he’s worried Arsenal’s quadruple bid could falter due to another injury crisis striking his midfield.
Martin Odegaard missed the FA Cup win over Wigan with a knock and Arteta was forced to play Bukayo Saka in central midfield.
Arsenal skipper Odegaard picked up a knock in the draw against Brentford and joins Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino on the sidelines.
‘Yes, and especially because we are going through…before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders, now it’s the midfielders,’ said Arteta when asked if he’s concerned his squad is getting thin with the club still fighting on all four fronts.
Arsenal lead the way in the Premier League title race, have already reached the League Cup final and topped the Champions League group phase.
‘We are still coping with that but we need some players back and fit and to give us as well not only numbers but different options in relation to the opponents that we have, so the quicker the better,’ added Arteta.
Mikel Arteta fears Arsenal’s injury crisis could scupper their bid for an historic quadruple
Arteta was forced to deploy Bukayo Saka in midfield in the Gunners’ 4-0 win over Wigan
‘Martin we’ll have to wait and see. He picked that knock on the action when we conceded the goal [against Brentford] and he wasn’t fit for today.’
Arteta planned to use Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield only for a late injury to defender Riccardo Calafiori to force him to start Saka there instead and admitted he may have to turn to the England international again.
‘I wanted to try it and we might use it in the future,’ said Arteta. ‘We still have so many games, competitions and different scenarios to play in this season, and that’s a possibility that we have.
‘He’s more central, he’s closer to the goal. It’s a bit more difficult for the opponent to get his reference constantly. He can interchange position with the wide player as well, and he’s so good at picking those spaces, and when he’s there, he can really hurt you with the ball.’
Defender Ben White also went off with an injury and Arteta said he would need to be assessed.
Eberechi Eze responded in style to being substituted at half-time against Brentford with two stunning assists for Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.
‘I think the risks he took in the final third, the amount of shots that he tried to take as well, I think that’s really positive,’ said Arteta. ‘That’s what I want from him.
‘Those players need those moments and, especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments. I’m very happy with that.
‘I’m very happy with Gabi (Martinelli) as well, the run that he made, the timing of that and then the finish in action, is really, really positive. So, it’s good for the mood, for the confidence.’
