Arteta confirms injury blow to Arsenal ahead of Liverpool

Arsenal‘s preparations for their blockbuster showdown with Liverpool have been rocked by a growing injury crisis, with Mikel Arteta delivering a grim update on the status of several key players.

After Tuesday night’s Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, the Gunners are now facing the prospect of being without five crucial squad members for the Liverpool match.

Already missing captain Martin Odegaard and star winger Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s problems deepened when new summer signing Riccardo Calafiori was forced off with a knee injury in the second half.

Read More:

Arsenal legend raises alarm on Mikel Arteta

The Italian defender appeared to twist his knee awkwardly, sparking fears of a more serious medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury that could sideline him for up to 10 weeks.

Mikel Arteta, while remaining coy on the exact extent of Calafiori’s injury, didn’t offer much hope:

“He had to come off because he felt something… it’s not good news.”

In addition to these setbacks, Jurrien Timber remains out of contention, having missed two consecutive matches, while William Saliba’s suspension adds another headache to Arteta’s defensive puzzle. Saliba’s red card against Bournemouth, following a last-man foul on Evanilson, leaves Arsenal short at the back for their crucial Premier League meeting.

With the Anfield clash looming, Arteta will need to rely on his squad’s depth and tactical flexibility to navigate this critical period as Arsenal’s title ambitions hang in the balance.