Mikel Arteta expects Pablo Mari to be absent for a few games after picking up a calf problem in training.
Arsenal announced prior to last night’s draw with Crystal Palace that the Spaniard was being rested as a precaution, however, in his post-game press conference the boss revealed the issue was likely to keep the centre-back sidelined for a while longer.
“No,” said Arteta when asked if the centre-back might return for Monday’s game against Newcastle.
“He has a calf injury that happened in training yesterday. I think he will miss a few matches.
“He’s another one that we lose, but we’ve got Gabi [Magalhaes] back after the Covid, which is good news and we’ve got Thomas back as well. Let’s focus on the positives.”
Pablo was in good form during a run of four-consecutive first team performances although, in retrospect, he did play a lot of football in a short space of time for a player who has only just returned from a long-term ankle problem. Luckily we still have lots of guys who can cover.
The absence of Kieran Tierney, who also pulled out of the Palace game late in the day, presents a bigger headache. Worryingly, the boss wasn’t sure how long the influential Scot might be absent.
“We don’t know [how long he’ll be out for]. We’ll probably know more on Friday after testing him and knowing more about the injury and how long he’s going to be out for.
“Certainly it was a big disappointment on the day of the match to lose him, but hopefully he can be with us very quickly.
On coping without the 23-year-old, he added: “It is a challenge when you create a game plan for the day and just a few hours before the game he has to pull out. But we have other players to do it and they have to step in. Kieran’s progression over the last few months has been incredible and now it’s for another player to step in and do what he does.”
Future Captain Tierney
Absofuckinglutely
To be fair, the lads done sensational for us when noone expected him to do, and that’s got us points. If that’s not a Gooner than I don’t know what is.
Mari is very good, as shown with the last few matches we won when he was playing and the draw versus Palace without him. A loss without him, though hope Gabriel steps up.
Tierney a big loss too, they both secured the left side of our defence as well as Tierney helping the attack.
Yeah, considering we still kept a clean sheet, I think the result was more down to a lack of Tierney than absence of Mari. Still a shame to lose him, but I have confidence Gabriel will be able to do the job well.
With all of our so called attacking talent, and we’re putting a draw with the mighty Palace down to a missing left back.
Take any of the top teams and you’ll never hear “we would have won if Zinchenko/Robertson/Shaw/Chilwell was playing”
I don’t remember Mari scoring any goals, cz that was the difference yesterday..
The whole of that Raul summer is looking doomed:
Perpetual injuries – Tierney, Mari, Martinelli
Ineffective- Luiz, Pepe, Saliba
Cedric – Cedric
Praying for quick returns for Gabi and Kieran. Boy do we need their enthusiasm and energy now.
Still better than Kim Kalstrom
“now it’s for another player to step in and do what he (Tierney) does.”….uummmm, wouldn’t we need a world class LB to do that?
It’s a shame he’s out both based on historical injuries and because he was having a good run of form. Luckily we have Gabriel who is hopefully not having any long term Covid impacts who has been having a stormer of a year before the red card/covid. I’d prefer, if he’s up to it, to bring him back in the team, rather than Luiz as it does appear that there may be some gentle Luiz friction bubbling away and Gabriel is much more our future regardless. This seems a world away from the Arsenal defensive woes of yesteryear when you’ve… Read more »
That picture needs a caption “Ooooh, been on the mince pies again KT?”
Ornstein reports Tierney injury not serious – in contention for Newcastle on Monday.
Thank Bergkamp for that!
Amen!!!! Saint Dennis Bergkamp is always with us, some just don’t know it.
On a serious note, I’m very thankful that another gooner uses this phrase, and not just me. What would I give for another Bergkamp at Arsenal? A lot.
Whoever we have in there, the distribution from the CB positions has to be faster than last night. Palace defended well, but we allowed them way to much time to drop in to position and that started with the CBs (Luiz mostly).
Luiz grinds my gears!
Is Mari actually tall or does he just have a really long head??
Luiz out please.. he seems to play as he wishes.. and he is not the future anyway
Do all clubs have as many injuries? Serious question
Yeah but obviously as Arsenal fans we only care about Arsenal injuries.
I mean. It got better. In the peak Wilshere/Rosicky/Ramsey/Diaby/Walcott days, this was a serious and frequent question.
I like Mari but don’t understand why people are hyping him to a level we just haven’t seen from him yet. Some didn’t want Gabriel back, a guy who’s won 3 “player of the month” in a row, over a guy who was decent in 3 games, against 3 possible relegation fodders. He wasn’t great against Chelsea and didn’t face a decent attacker in the following games. Let him play a season consistently, against better teams and we’ll see. He has some obvious weaknesses, lets see how he copes with them.
Agree 100%, that baffled me. It’s who partners Gabriel, for me.
Arteta needs stability at the back. In his defense, he has been hampered by injuries. Gabriel due to come back in so will be interesting to see how he kicks on with Holding. Luiz also available but we also have Mustafi and poor old Chambers. the latter two not the best but there are at very least options. OTOH as mentioned we need to keep IMO as stable a slection back there as possible (and in deep midfield). Intuition is important. Other news, why Arteta is even entertaining keeping Luiz for another season is beyond me. The triumvrate he needs… Read more »
Than he will come back for few… than miss a few… the cycle will go on until his contract ends
So many soft tissue injuries
Ohh no, bad news