Arsenal has been dealt yet another injury worry ahead of Sunday’s clash with Liverpool after Riccardo Calafiori added to Mikel Arteta’s headaches.
The Gunners are already without Martin Odegaard and the suspended William Saliba for the visit of Arne Slot’s side at the weekend. Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber look to be major doubts as well after missing Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
And there was yet more bad news for Arsenal, with Calafiori forced off with what looks to be another injury.
The Italian appeared to jar his knee while stretching to make a tackle. After receiving treatment on the pitch, the defender attempted to play on, but just a few minutes later, he was back down again.
This time, no chances were taken as Calafiori made his way off the pitch to be substituted by teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly. Rather than take his place on the bench, Calafiori headed straight down the tunnel with a member of Arsenal’s medical team, which certainly doesn’t look to be a good sign for Arteta.
Mikel Arteta is facing a growing injury crisis ahead of facing Liverpool
The Gunners boss had already conceded to not being sure whether Saka would be available for Sunday’s visit of Liverpool. Arteta had suggested the England international could make his return to training on Monday, having picked up a hamstring problem while on international duty.
Saka though, along with Timber, was nowhere to be seen during the open training session, and the pair were subsequently left out of the squad against Shakhtar.
“At the moment I’m not very helpful,” Arteta admitted after being asked about Saka’s injury ahead of the game. “Let’s see. We still have a few days.”
Liverpool, meanwhile, looks set to be without five players in north London. Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott all look likely to miss out through injury, having not made the trip to RB Leipzig – Slot will hope his side doesn’t pick up any more issues in Germany on Wednesday.
