Arteta Expresses Concern Over Injuries as Arsenal Pursues Silverware

omidbasir- Mikel Arteta has expressed concern that a growing injury list might hinder Arsenal’s quest for silverware this season.

Arsenal secured a decisive 4-0 victory over League One side Wigan, advancing to the fifth round of the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium. However, the match saw Riccardo Calafiori sustain an injury during the warm-up and be unable to start, while Ben White had to exit the game in the second half.

Captain Martin Odegaard was unavailable due to a knock sustained in Arsenal’s previous 1-1 draw against Brentford. Additionally, Kai Havertz is expected to be absent for the remainder of the month, and Mikel Merino is likely to miss the rest of the season following foot surgery.

When asked about the growing concern regarding squad depth, Arteta responded, “Yes. Initially, we faced injuries among the strikers, then the defenders, and now it is the midfielders who are being affected.

“We are managing, but we need players to return and regain fitness, not just for numbers but also to provide different tactical options against various opponents. The sooner they can return, the better.”

Arsenal currently sits four points clear at the top of the Premier League and will face Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday, followed by a critical north London derby against Tottenham next weekend.

In their impressive FA Cup performance, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Jack Hunt (own goal), and Gabriel Jesus all scored within a remarkable 17 minutes during the first half.

Eberechi Eze, a £68 million ($92.6 million) signing from Crystal Palace, has faced scrutiny for his form this season and was substituted at halftime during Arsenal’s draw with Brentford—his first league start in two months. However, on Sunday, he provided assists for the first two goals, prompting Arteta to acknowledge, “Those players need those moments, especially the creative ones; they must feel they are contributing. I am very pleased with that. It greatly benefits their mood and confidence.

“The risks he took in the final third and the number of shots he attempted were very encouraging. That is precisely what we expect from him. He is already playing a significant role and will continue to do so.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Wigan, currently without a manager, displayed resilience and managed to avoid a more significant loss, especially after Manchester City overwhelmed Exeter with ten goals in their last round. Assistant coach Graham Barrow remarked, “It can happen. Manchester City demonstrated in the last round that they can achieve this against anyone, and City and Arsenal are the two teams you want to avoid in this situation.

“You hope for a more favorable draw, but one must be cautious about what they wish for, as we witnessed today. By the end, it was probably relief that the players demonstrated their capabilities in the second half.”