‘Not great news’- Arteta concerned after Calafiori joins Arsenal injury list
During a post-match interview, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided insights following his team’s victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, but concerns about player injuries overshadowed the win. Riccardo Calafiori was forced off the pitch in the second half due to what Arteta described as “not great news,” hinting at potential knee problems.
“We had a strong first half, courtesy of an own goal from the Shakhtar goalkeeper, but it was disappointing to see Riccardo leave the game in discomfort,” Arteta shared. “He felt something, but I don’t know the extent of it yet.”
The injury woes extend beyond Calafiori, with key players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Jurrien Timber already sidelined. Arteta addressed Saka’s potential return for the crucial match against Liverpool on Sunday, stating, “He wasn’t able to train yet, so that’s unlikely.”
Arteta reassured fans that Ben White would not be joining the injury list. After replacing White at halftime following a shaky performance that included a yellow card, Arteta explained, “It was my decision to take him out. I didn’t want to risk going down to 10 men, especially with Shakhtar applying pressure.”
Despite their eventual win, Arsenal struggled against the Ukrainian champions, missing several opportunities, including a late penalty from Leandro Trossard. Reflecting on the match, Arteta remarked, “We looked tired and should have put the game to bed with the amount of dominance we had.”
Looking ahead to the matchup with Liverpool, who currently lead the Premier League, Arteta expressed optimism. “I was expecting a bit of a drop-off after the Bournemouth game and the international break, and we paid the price for not creating enough distance on the scoreboard,” he said. “But we have four days to recover. Believe me, come Sunday, we’ll be flying.”
On the opposing side, Shakhtar manager Marino Pusic praised his team for their performance against Arsenal. “I’m very proud of how my players showed up tonight,” he commented. “It’s never easy to play against such a tremendous team, and I truly believe we deserved an equalizer.”
