Mikel Arteta is currently facing a tough period at Arsenal as his squad struggles with a growing injury list. The most recent concern is Riccardo Calafiori, who injured his knee in Arsenal’s Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk.
If this injury turns out to be serious, Calafiori will join several other sidelined players, disrupting Arsenal’s form further.
The Gunners have already been without key figures like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. Odegaard has been out for a few weeks, and Saka, who was injured while on international duty with England, has also missed matches.
Their absence was particularly felt during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, a loss that damaged their Premier League title hopes. This setback has left Arsenal four points behind Liverpool, putting extra pressure on their upcoming fixture against the Merseyside club.
The match against Liverpool is vital for both teams. A win for Liverpool would extend their lead at the top to seven points, which would make it even harder for Arsenal to stay in the title race.
Playing at the Emirates might give Arsenal an advantage, but the potential absence of Calafiori presents another challenge for Arteta. Calafiori injured his knee in a challenge during the Shakhtar game and had to be replaced by youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Calafiori’s injury comes at a bad time for Arsenal, as he has been a key player in defense, starting in the last four Premier League games and playing in nine matches this season.
Adding to Arteta’s concerns, William Saliba will miss the Liverpool clash due to a red card picked up in the Bournemouth match. With both Calafiori and Saliba potentially unavailable, Arsenal’s defense will be weakened, which could give Liverpool an upper hand.
Liverpool will likely see this as an opportunity to capitalize on Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities. Arsenal fans are anxiously awaiting updates on Calafiori’s condition, hoping the injury is not severe.
With key matches ahead, including the crucial game against Liverpool, Arsenal needs as many of its players fit as possible to continue challenging for the Premier League title.
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