The talk of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool were the injury concerns that Mikel Arteta had to deal with.
Leading up to the match, there was worry that as many as seven players could miss out on the action, including several first team names.
Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber made the cut in the nick of time but Riccardo Calafiori remained on the sidelines and William Saliba served his one-match suspension.
Matters weren’t made any easier during play as anxiety mounted in the Emirates as Gabriel Magalhaes was forced to withdraw with injury.
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Mikel Arteta offers double Arsenal injury update
Gabriel wasn’t the only defensive scare that Arsenal had, as Timber also came off due to discomfort.
The Gunners ended the game with a back four of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and Thomas Partey, reinforcing the dilemma Arteta found himself in.
Speaking after the game in the post-match press conference, the manager provided a brief update on the pair, praising Arsenal’s medical staff
“We’ve done everything we could to accelerate the process. He [Timber] was so willing. The medical staff did amazing work, I don’t know the extent of the injury, if there is one,” Arteta said.
The Spaniard then went on to offer more of an update on Gabriel’s fitness, saying that he does not know the extent of the possible injury.
“I don’t know but he can’t run. I don’t know if it was his knee or his ankle. He is being assessed right now.”
It’s a concern for Arsenal, who can’t afford to lose a figure as instrumental to the squad’s success as Gabriel, with there set to be another anxious wait to learn the Brazilian’s fate.
Arsenal are having an early injury crisis
Against Liverpool, Arteta was forced to name his sixth back four of the Premier League season, with more change expected if Gabriel requires some time on the sidelines.
After only nine games played, the manager will already be sick of the injuries his side has faced, with the boss arguably yet to field his favoured XI.
It was a game of mixed emotion for the hosts, who did not lose to Liverpool but suffered additional fitness scares and failed to maintain their lead twice.
What Arteta will be satisfied with is that his side sit third in the table after a horrendous start to the season on the injury front.
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