Arteta laments growing injury list

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was proud of his side’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday but was left to rue a growing injury list after losing two more key defenders against their Premier League title rivals. league.

The London club started Sunday’s game without captain and the long absences of Martin Odegaard and defender Riccardo Calafiori due to injury, as well as another defender William Saliba due to suspension.

But it hit even harder when defensive mainstay Gabriel Magalhaes and left wing Jurrien Timber were forced off the field in the second half, leaving a largely makeshift backline.

“The first half was total dominance, the score should have been higher, but we gave nothing away, conceding two goals. It’s disappointing,” Arteta said.

He told reporters that while he was disappointed that his team didn’t win, he was “very proud of the team, especially given the situation we’re going through at the moment”, referring to the club’s injury list.

“We have to adapt to it and we continue to adapt to it,” he said, adding that the club and fans had to “support and praise the players because the courage with which they played again today was incredible.”

He said the extent of both Sunday’s injuries was not yet known.

There were doubts Timber would be fit for Sunday’s match. Of Gabriel, Arteta said: “He couldn’t run. I don’t know if the problem is in the knee joint or the ankle.”

On a positive note, Bukayo Saka returned after missing last weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth due to an injury picked up while on international duty.

Saka gave Arsenal the lead in the ninth minute when he pounced on top of Ben White’s ball, cut past Andy Robertson and fired past Caoimhin Kelleher at his near post for his 50th Premier League goal.

“I was just thinking about this game and I will do everything I can to get back into this game,” Saka told Sky Sports.

Arteta said he would rather be five points ahead of champions and league leaders Manchester City than five points behind, although he added: “The team is alive, the team wants it.”

Arsenal are currently in third place with 18 points, just behind Liverpool (22) and City (23).

The Gunners are hoping to soon bring back captain and creator-in-chief Odegaard, who has been out since September. The Norwegian said in his matchday program that he was close to a return, but Arteta subsequently said that was “still a bit of a long way off”.

“This is football. Circumstances make us better, they make us better,” Arteta said.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he was overall happy: “It’s good to see us come from behind twice and get a point against a very strong and good Arsenal team.”

Reuters