Arsenal are now in crisis mode following the news of the latest injury setback.
After news broke at the start of their mid-season break to Dubai of Gabriel Martinelli’s hamstring injury, it has now been confirmed that Kai Havertz will miss the rest of the season with surgery required.
Arsenal will be hoping David Moyes can beat Liverpool to prevent Arne Slot’s side from going nine points clear in the Premier League but the latest injury blows put an irreparable dent in the Gunners’ chase.
Fans are furious with the Arsenal board for their lack of transfer ambition in the January window but historic comments from Mikel Arteta and Jurrien Timber also show that Arsenal were playing with fire by not strengthening their attacking options.
Mikel Arteta and Jurrien Timber have questioned fixtures schedule in the past
Both Arteta and Timber have made comments in the past that show that injuries such as those to Havertz and Martinelli have been coming for not just Arsenal but for teams around England because of the fixture schedule.
As per The Guardian back in April 2024, Arteta stated in response to questions over a tight fixture schedule: “It is not right. If you look in any angle it’s not right. If you want to protect, let’s talk about the players and the protagonists.
“Let’s protect the players and do everything we can to give them the maximum time to help them recover and perform and do the show that they do every week.”
Timber, who suffered an acl injury himself on his league debut in 2023, also spoke to Reuters about player welfare.
The Dutch defender stated: “Definitely (players are more at risk). I think it’s honestly a dangerous thing. Even last week we played City and City played two days later. That’s too much.
“I think it’s a really good thing that the players are speaking out now. It doesn’t look like it will be getting any less. We’re trying to be there every game and give our best, but it gets harder and harder. Especially in England where there’s no winter break.”
Timber believes he could be used as Arteta’s solution to attacking woes
Timber has stated he could score 15 goals and assists as Arsenal striker in past comments to the club website.
Riccardo Calafiori has also claimed that he was a striker when he was younger and whilst it is unlikely that the defensive duo will be used as the central striker, Arteta will now need to find creative solutions to the problem.
Calafiori has scored twice in his debut season at the Emirates Stadium, including a late winner at Molineux recently when Arsenal were down to ten men.
Timber has also found the net already this season in the victory at home to Man United but both may need to chip in with more from now until the end of the season.
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