Mikel Arteta has admitted he’s “very apprehensive” about William Saliba‘s harm after the Arsenal defender missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw in opposition to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Arsenal’s squandering of two Premier League factors was compounded by considerations about Saliba, who was not even within the squad after struggling a hamstring harm within the 2-1 victory over Tottenham in midweek.
The France worldwide is integral to Arsenal’s defence and his absence with a again harm within the second half of the 2022-23 marketing campaign undermined their probabilities of staying with Manchester Metropolis within the title race.
“I believe tomorrow we could have extra data, we could have extra assessments on him and we will likely be extra clear about it,” Arteta stated.
“For certain [we are worried], particularly with the numbers we have now within the squad and our bench. Very apprehensive.”
Arteta was pressured to re-shuffle his defence with Jurriën Timber switching to the centre alongside Gabriel and midfielder Thomas Partey filling in as a makeshift right-back.
Arsenal led 2-0 with objectives by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz however Villa hit again and Ollie Watkins equalised after Youri Tielemans headed his facet again into rivalry.
Arteta was filled with reward for his facet’s show however criticised the defending for the second objective as Matty Money flighted over a cross that Watkins transformed with a luxurious volley.
“We are able to fault ourselves as effectively as a result of defending the way in which we did particularly with one of many objectives, it can’t be a part of our recreation if we wish to be on the highest stage on this nation,” Arteta stated. “The remainder, what else can I ask the crew to do in opposition to a extremely good facet?”
Arteta will hope the scans on Saliba present no critical harm because the statistics recommend he’s very important to Arsenal.
With Saliba within the crew Arsenal have a 72% win price whereas within the video games he has missed since becoming a member of that dips to 38%.
Second-placed Arsenal’s draw left them six factors behind Liverpool who even have a recreation in hand and Arteta hinted at motion within the January switch window.
“You take a look at the performances, I do not know what number of groups are enjoying at this stage within the league,” he stated. “Once you take a look at the bench, in all probability you say I believe we’re very brief.”
