Mikel Arteta Worried About Rising Injury Problems Following Victory Against Brentford

Arsenal FC secured a 2-0 win against Brentford, reinforcing their position in the Premier League title race. This victory marked the team’s eighth consecutive home win, extending their unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all competitions. The win allowed Arsenal to maintain a five-point lead at the top of the league table.

Mikel Arteta’s Concerns Over Injury Problems

Despite the victory, manager Mikel Arteta expressed significant concern regarding rising injury issues within his squad. The Gunners were already missing key defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba due to injuries when they faced Brentford. The situation worsened when defender Cristhian Mosquera suffered an injury just before halftime.

Declan Rice’s Injury

Adding to Arteta’s worries, midfielder Declan Rice, who played a crucial role in the match, limped off with just ten minutes remaining. Initial assessments suggested he had a potential calf issue. Arteta commented on Rice’s condition, stating, “We don’t know. We have to see tomorrow what he’s got.”

Fixture Congestion

Arteta also raised concerns regarding the demanding fixture schedule following a challenging week where his side played against Tottenham, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea. He noted the strain this places on player welfare, emphasizing the need for more recovery time. “We can play minutes, but if they can please give us just a little more time to recover, that would be great,” he said.

Match Highlights

• Goals: Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka scored for Arsenal.
• Match Stats:
  • Arsenal: 2 goals.
  • Brentford: 0 goals.
• Brentford’s Struggle: This match marked Brentford’s fifth defeat in their last six away games.

Managerial Comments

Brentford’s head coach, Keith Andrews, acknowledged the challenges his team faced during the match. He remarked, “We conceded an early goal and we should have done better with that.” Despite the loss, he expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating they made the game difficult for Arsenal.

The upcoming fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday poses additional concerns for Arteta, who must deal with the ongoing injury crisis. Arsenal fans will be hoping for positive updates on their injured players as they continue their pursuit of Premier League success.