S Poddar
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is faced with an increasingly desperate injury crisis ahead of the visit from Liverpool later this month after a series of key players now joined the casualty list.
Wing-back Bukayo Saka was withdrawn from the England squad after limping out of their 2-1 defeat to Greece. He is a huge loss for both Arsenal and England. Captain Martin Odegaard has also been out of action since early September due to an ankle injury. His return date remains uncertain and there are fears that he may be out until November.
The list of Arsenal’s injuries has just grown longer, this time in the Brazilian captain for Arsenal, Gabriel Martinelli. During a training session with the national team, the striker complained of calf pain in his right calf. He was rushed for an MRI scan. Results of the scan showed that he has edema in his right calf, thus putting all his chances of participating in the qualifier against Brazil with Peru in disarray.
Martinelli has been excellent this season, scoring two goals and providing two assists in three games. He has proven to be an important player for the team. The Brazilian’s record against Liverpool is impressive, as he has scored five goals against the Reds in 10 games.
Plainly speaking, Arteta’s quest to topple the Premier League title with Arsenal is being hampered by the injury problems of the team. Already, Arsenal have lost much ground to last season’s new variants Manchester City while some important players are out of action.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will seize on Arsenal’s injury crisis. The Reds have also been in some form, so Anfield should surely be up for an exciting challenge as the Redners travel to Emirates Stadium. A befitting match with no less importance is expected from either end.
