Arsenal's Defensive Nightmare: Arteta Delivers Devastating News on Saliba and Gabriel Injuries
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta disclosed that the Gunners must "manage" without William Saliba and Gabriel for an extended "stretch of time."
The defensive duo was notably absent on Saturday during Arsenal's crushing 2–1 loss to Aston Villa. The table-toppers watched their point slip away at Villa Park in dramatic fashion when Emiliano Buendía struck the decisive blow for the home side in the 95th minute.
The sidelined Saliba and Gabriel were unavailable for the encounter, alongside fellow center-back Cristhian Mosquera, who picked up an ankle problem during the Gunners' 2–0 victory against Brentford on Wednesday night.
Piero Hincapié and Jurriën Timber were selected for defensive duties, supported on the flanks by Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White. However, the improvised defensive unit couldn't contain Unai Emery's resurgent Villa side and were left devastated when the final whistle sounded in Birmingham.
After the game, Arteta offered no encouraging news regarding Saliba or Gabriel's conditions: "It is what it is. I believe we must manage that [their unavailability]. We're going to need to handle that for an extended period as well."
Saliba has been absent from Arsenal's previous three fixtures after sustaining an injury during training before the team's journey to Stamford Bridge. Gabriel, on the other hand, hasn't played since suffering a thigh problem while on duty with Brazil during the November international break.
Arteta Delivers Concerning Mosquera Fitness Report
Arteta also addressed Mosquera's condition following the team's Saturday setback and delivered disappointing news.
"He'll be sidelined for weeks. Regrettably, it's significantly worse than we anticipated, given how he was feeling," the Spanish manager explained.
Earlier reports indicated Mosquera would miss at least six weeks, leaving Arsenal severely depleted defensively during the congested festive schedule. Making matters worse, Manchester City have closed the gap to just two points behind the Gunners in the Premier League standings.
"We understand that reality and the squad must be capable of adjusting," Arteta commented on Arsenal's injury crisis. "We won't make excuses. Clearly, we recognize what [Saliba and Gabriel] contribute, particularly in matches like this."
Nevertheless, the 43-year-old manager will be hoping to have Saliba available for the Gunners' European trip, where they meet Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night.