Mikel Arteta fears Riccardo Calafiori might be part of Arsenal’s mounting damage listing however vowed the Gunners “will likely be flying” in opposition to Liverpool on Sunday.
Calafiori limped out of Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium 18 minutes from the top after falling awkwardly on his proper leg.
The Italian defender, a £42 million summer season signing from Bologna, will likely be assessed within the coming days however Arteta admitted the preliminary indicators weren’t promising.
“With Riccy he needed to come off as a result of he felt one thing,” stated Arteta. “I do not know the extent of it so in that sense not nice information. He couldn’t proceed enjoying so, a little bit of a fear.”
Arteta additionally stated it was “unlikely” Bukayo Saka can be out there to face Premier League leaders Liverpool this weekend as he battles a hamstring downside whereas Martin Ødegaard (ankle) and Jurriën Timber (muscular concern) are additionally main doubts.
With William Saliba suspended following his pink card at Bournemouth, Arteta might resort to utilizing midfielder Thomas Partey at proper again in a reshuffled defence after a subdued show in opposition to Shakhtar by which goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk scored an unlucky Twenty ninth-minute personal aim to settle the sport.
“I used to be anticipating a little bit of a drop off,” stated Arteta. “And the truth that we put a lot within the first half and did not get the gap when it comes to the scoreline, I believe we paid a bit for that.
“Then we made life tougher for us as a result of we began give the ball away in not the proper areas after which it was extra open. That did not assist. However we’ve now 4 days. Imagine me, on Sunday we’ll be flying.
“We’ll evaluation, have a time without work, then two days to organize the sport. Sunday is way and we’re greater than comfy that we’ll be in the proper place.”
Ben White was substituted at half-time however Arteta stated that call was because of a need to keep away from a fourth pink card for his crew this season after the defender picked up a Thirty fourth-minute yellow card.
“Ben, it was my choice to take him out,” added Arteta. “He had a yellow card and we have performed sufficient with 10 males in current intervals. They’d a whole lot of density on that facet, a whole lot of gamers on that facet, so I did not wish to take any probabilities there.”
