Arsenal secured a dramatic 4-2 victory over Premier League newcomers Leicester City on Saturday, but the match was much tighter than the scoreline suggests. Despite an early lead through first-half goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, the Gunners were forced to fight for the three points after a Leicester comeback.
Arsenal appeared to be in control after a dominant first half, with several chances to extend their lead. However, Leicester defender James Justin’s second-half brace shocked the Emirates crowd, levelling the score and leaving the Gunners’ faithful on edge.
The game was ultimately decided in stoppage time when Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi inadvertently scored an own goal, giving Arsenal the lead. Moments later, Kai Havertz sealed the victory with a late strike, ensuring Mikel Arteta’s side walked away with all three points. The win moved Arsenal level with Manchester City on 14 points, after City dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United earlier in the day.
Despite the victory, Arsenal’s growing injury list is a major concern for Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are already without key players, including captain Martin Odegaard, who is set for an extended spell on the sidelines, and new summer signing Mikel Merino, who has yet to make his debut after suffering a shoulder injury in his first training session with the team.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are also out, while Ben White missed the Leicester match due to injury. White’s absence has allowed Jurrien Timber to continue at right-back after impressing against Manchester City last weekend. Another player who has benefitted from White’s absence is Riccardo Calafiori, the Italian full-back signed from Bologna this summer.
Calafiori has impressed since his arrival, notably scoring a stunning goal against Manchester City. However, the 22-year-old has had his own struggles with injury, having missed the North London Derby due to a calf issue sustained during Italy’s 3-1 victory over France on September 6.
According to Teamnewsandtix via Now Arsenal, Calafiori may have picked up a knee injury at the end of the Leicester match, as the defender was seen in tears during post-match celebrations. The Italian full-back has only recently returned to full training after his calf injury, and the potential new setback could further limit Arteta’s defensive options ahead of a key Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
With Ben White and Calafiori potentially out, Arteta may have to turn to Jakub Kiwior to fill the gap in the backline. However, the Polish defender brings a different skill set compared to the attacking prowess of Calafiori, who demonstrated his offensive threat with his goal against Manchester City.
As Arteta awaits further updates on Calafiori’s condition, the Arsenal manager will be hoping that the injury is not severe. With a mounting injury list, Arsenal’s depth will be tested as they prepare for a challenging run of fixtures both domestically and in Europe.
