Arteta Addresses Injury Concerns Ahead of Wolves Clash

omidbasir- The Italian defender suffered an injury during the warm-up for the second time this season, forcing him to withdraw from the starting lineup against Wigan in the FA Cup. This incident follows a similar situation in December, when he was also sidelined from a Premier League match against Brighton due to a muscular issue. Notably, Bukayo Saka experienced an injury in the lead-up to the league match against Leeds earlier this February, while William Saliba had an ankle issue prior to facing Liverpool back in August.

In light of these recurrent problems, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that the club is closely examining their pre-match routines. When questioned about the internal review ahead of their upcoming match against Wolves, he stated, “Yes, indeed. The circumstances were quite varied. The first incident involved Willy rolling his ankle against Liverpool, followed by two warm-up injuries to Riccy, which were notably similar.

“Bukayo’s situation was particularly unexpected; he had rested midweek and did not play against Kairat, but then sustained an injury against Leeds. This is highly unusual, occurring maybe once or twice in the six years I’ve been here, but it has happened four times recently. Therefore, we are certainly analyzing it. Willy’s injury was difficult to predict, as warm-ups serve as a final assessment for a player’s readiness. Bukayo’s injury was entirely random with no prior indications, and we must learn from these occurrences.”

Arteta even suggested the possibility of eliminating traditional warm-ups altogether, indicating a willingness to make drastic changes if necessary. “As a former player, I can appreciate the value of specific routines that signal to your body that the game is approaching. Altering this can be challenging. It’s worth exploring the implications of not conducting a warm-up, especially considering that we often sit for approximately 15 minutes at half-time before returning to full intensity in the second half. This is a concept worth considering.”

The recent wave of pre-match injuries has caused Arteta significant anxiety, leading him to be more vigilant about potential issues before each game. “I can physically sense my heightened awareness around it,” he admitted. “Whenever someone enters my office, I find myself hoping for no bad news, as it is a particularly precarious moment.

“When you substitute Riccy for Bukayo, it requires substantial adjustments to the game plan, altering player positions and other dynamics, often with just two minutes to adapt. This experience has undoubtedly improved my coaching skills, enhancing my ability to consider various contingencies both before and during matches.”

Arteta will be eager to avoid any further injury setbacks as his team prepares to face Wolves on Wednesday night, with the Gunners aiming to maintain their top position against the struggling side.