Arsenal faces a daunting challenge as they prepare to face Aston Villa, with a growing injury list threatening to derail their Premier League title aspirations. Manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his frustration with the congested fixture schedule, which he believes is contributing to the mounting injury woes.
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Declan Rice, a crucial midfielder, was forced off during the recent win against Brentford with a calf problem. Arteta confirmed Rice "could not carry on playing" and his availability for the Villa game remains uncertain. Adding to the concerns, defender Cristhian Mosquera suffered an ankle injury in the same match and is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks. Tests are still being conducted to determine the full extent of the damage. The loss of Mosquera further weakens Arsenal's defensive options.
Defensive Woes Deepen
The injury crisis in defence is particularly worrying for Arsenal. First-choice centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are already sidelined. Saliba is reportedly "days" away from returning from a knock, while Gabriel is expected to be out until January with a thigh injury. With Mosquera now also unavailable, Arsenal's defensive resources are stretched thin.
Arteta's Frustration with the Schedule
Arteta has voiced his discontent with the Premier League schedule, highlighting the lack of recovery time for players. He pointed out the quick turnaround between their Wednesday night game against Brentford and the Saturday morning fixture against Aston Villa. "Now we play Wednesday night and we have to play Saturday morning as well," Arteta lamented, urging authorities to consider giving teams playing in Europe "a little bit more time to recover." He believes a more balanced schedule would benefit the well-being of players and ultimately improve the quality of the league.
The Road Ahead
Arsenal's immediate focus is on the crucial match against Aston Villa. Following that, they face a trip to Club Brugge in the Champions League. Navigating this congested period with a depleted squad will be a significant test of Arsenal's resilience and squad depth. The return of Saliba would be a major boost, but Arteta will need to rely on his remaining players to step up and deliver results amidst the injury crisis.