Arsenal’s luck with injuries is getting worse by the day.
The Gunners have had to do without a number of key players already this season, and that has had an impact even though they are on top of the Premier League and Champions League tables.
Against Aston Villa, Arsenal were without William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and even Cristhian Mosquera, who was hurt against Brentford.
Now, Mikel Arteta has shared a worrying update on the Spaniard’s injury.
Who do you think should start as Arsenal’s centre-backs if William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are both unavailable?
Mikel Arteta says Cristhian Mosquera’s injury is worse than expected
Mosquera has been a revelation since joining Arsenal from Valencia in the summer.
The Spain U21 international had been tasked with replacing both Saliba and Gabriel over the last few months, and he impressed everyone with his performances.
Against Brentford, while filling in for Saliba, Mosquera landed awkwardly after jumping for a header. He went down almost immediately and had to be taken off.
Seeing the defender walk off the pitch was reassuring, which is perhaps why Arteta and Arsenal’s medical staff initially felt it wouldn’t be a serious issue.
However, reports have revealed that Mosquera could be out for six to eight weeks because of his injury. Arteta has all but confirmed that by saying his issue is worse than expected.
He said in his press conference after the defeat to Aston Villa, as relayed on HaytersTV: “He’s going to be out for weeks, unfortunately.
“It’s much more than what we expected or the player was feeling. So he’s going to be out for weeks.”
Rate Cristhian Mosquera’s performances for Arsenal out of 10! Have you been impressed or should he be doing more?
Arsenal signed Cristhian Mosquera for just £13m in the summer. How good has he been?
Arsenal are suddenly in a defensive crisis
Arsenal had an injury crisis with their attack earlier this season, but they coped well then. Now, the same issue has affected their defence.
Saliba, Gabriel and Mosquera are all currently out with injuries, while Riccardo Calafiori, who limped off the pitch against Aston Villa, is suspended for Arsenal’s next game.
That leaves Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is out of form, Piero Hincapie, who has received criticism since the defeat at Aston Villa, and the two right-backs, Ben White and Jurrien Timber, available at Arteta’s disposal.
That back four is still capable of dealing with top attacking sides, but if the injured players aren’t back soon, the ones available will be at risk of getting injured themselves.
However, Arteta has no choice but to play all of them in the coming games.
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