After yesterday’s 5-2 win at West Ham United, Mikel Arteta provided updates on defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori after they were substituted before the hour mark.
Gabriel, a doubt coming into the match having limped off in the closing stages of Tuesday’s win against Sporting Lisbon, was central to the first-half action, breaking the deadlock on 10 minutes with another beautifully executed corner routine before earning a penalty in stoppage time when he took an unintended punch to the head from Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski. The Brazil international didn’t appear for the second half but Arteta made clear it wasn’t because his medical team were concerned about a concussion.
In his post-game press conference, the Spaniard said: “It was related to the previous injury that he had in Lisbon and obviously he did great to be part of that [the game] but with that result and with the niggle that he’s feeling, we decided to take him off.”
As for Calafiori, whose start to life at Arsenal has been peppered with injury concerns, he continued: “He’s been with little niggles in the last few weeks. Obviously, he had a very serious knee injury and he’s doing really well, but we have to manage his minutes and today we have to do the same.”
We’re assuming the injury he references is the one picked up by the defender while he was still in Roma’s youth ranks; one that doctors feared might end his career at the time.
The upside of the squad’s injury issues is that Arteta has been able to give more minutes to fringe players.
Jorginho started the match in place of the absence Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey, Jakub Kiwior replaced Gabriel for the second time in four days and Alex Zinchenko covered for Calafiori with Myles Lewis-Skelly struggling. Ethan Nwaneri also added to his recent substitute cameos along with Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.
Arteta is impressed by the way they all stepped up to close out the win: “We had an issue with Gabi, we have an issue with Ricky as well, yesterday we lost Thomas and Mikel and Myles which was very bad news but what I’m really happy about is Jakub has to come in, he does really well,” he said.
“Alex the same, Jorginho, I thought he was exceptional today as well. That’s the level, every three days we’re going to need everybody at their best and it’s a good sign that the team can do that.”
With games coming thick and fast, it’s certainly important that Arsenal have found some rhythm after a patch run of autumnal form.
“We are in a great moment right now, but in football, be on your toes and be prepared the best possible way for tomorrow because it’s so competitive,” said Arteta.
“This league, the position that we are playing every three days, that’s the only thing that you can do, you know, analyse what we’ve done really well. A lot of things to improve and still today, go again tomorrow.”
The injury thing is a real curse.
With our full team out there, we’re irresistible.
Let’s hope these new ones are short term🙏
Totally agree, it’s made the difference between first and second in the PL the last two seasons. Let’s pray for very few injuries this season.
Jorginho’s presence has a correlation with high scorelines…with him you get an extra playmaker…. we’ll miss him… doesn’t grumble on the bench…steps in and gets the job done
It is, but just look around, it affects the performances of every top team. Insane amount of games plus the mostly meaningless internationals are cracking players. Just look at Real for example. We must calculate with the injuries and only good luck can help to shorten le Rosicky list.
Kiwior can still improve
Bit of worry that we are talking about managing Calafiori’s minutes due to an injury he sustained long before we ever paid large chunks of money for him…
He’s becoming another Tomi. Worrying.
Way too soon to be saying something like that
Jorginho is such a pro, always trust him to be ready to contribute. Hope he stays on with us in a coaching capacity once he hangs up his boots.
He kinda already acts like an assistant coach and I think both Arteta and his teammates like the way he helps run things on the pitch. And he still sees–and executes–those passes. In a funny way, the player he reminds me of is a guy who is almost his opposite physically–Granit Xhaka.
100%. His temperament is more measured but both leaders on and off the pitch with the same types of attributes and vulnerabilities. They set the tempo for their team, they keep the ball, they can playmake from deeper areas and off the ball they work hard, keep other accountable, get their angles and distances just right. All essential qualities.
No way he was impressed with Jesus
Son of God? Yeah, whatever. Mate of mine’s got a Porsche!
His head is gone (Jesus). At one point he was through on goal, could’ve slotted past Fabianski or laid it off to Nwaneri, but just sort of froze and lost the ball. A shadow of the player he was when he arrived.
And no way he was impressed by Sterling either.
I have to disagree with Arteta on some of players fringe players from the bencn. Kiwior looks too nervous for me. Against Sporting he was too shaky, and couple of other games he came on his passing has been poor. Sterling and Jesus are trying too hard with the sub role. They don’t really seem confident with on the ball. Hopefully with some cup games and extra minutes things will improve.
Do you want a draw between Liverpool and City or zero point for Liverpool? Let’s say zero point for Liverpool instead win for the other team.
I want a draw. But TAA is doing my head in with these pinpoint 50 yard passes to Salah
I just hope both teams lose
Against all available evidence I thought City would be competitive today. And then Pep picks THAT as a starting 11? A midfield of Silva, Lewis, Gundo and Foden against Liverpool at Anfield? ZERO physicality, no width, no wingers, no intensity out of possession. And no KdB until like 70 minutes. It’s almost like he is consciously sabotaging his own team at this point.
Really think Mikel is incredible at managing people.