18 hours ago
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Mikel Arteta has explained the high number of injuries Arsenal have sustained since the start of last season, with the total approaching a Premier League-leading amount
Arsenal having the second-highest number of injuries in the Premier League since the start of last season is not something Mikel Arteta blames on the club's medical staff.
Brighton and Hove Albion are the only top-flight team to have sustained more setbacks, with 97, than the 93 the Gunners have faced over the last 18 months. A player Arsenal signed from Brighton, Leandro Trossard, is one of the latest to pick up a knock.
Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz and William Saliba also remain out at least for the Champions League match against Club Brugge. Arteta has now addressed their absences over the last 18 months.
The manager said when asked whether it was bad luck or there was a reason behind them: "I think you have to separate the kind of injuries that they are. Some of them have been long-term and acute injuries, especially with some of the key players, that keep you out for a lot of days.
"It's something that we are constantly looking at. As well, we have played a lot of games with a lot of players missing, that puts a lot of stress and then more injuries.
"But we are on it, and I'm really happy with what we're doing in terms of the medical stuff and everything that we are trying to bring together. Sometimes, as well, we need some things to go on our side."
Of the 93 injuries, 26 have come this season. Only newly promoted Leeds United have more, with 28, while last weekend's opponents, Aston Villa, also have 26.
More than half of the league have sustained over 20, with Crystal Palace third at 25. Chelsea have two left, while Brighton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are all level on 22.
Three of those mentioned are also among the five teams with over 80 since the start of last season. Spurs are just behind Arsenal on 87, with Villa at 83 and Newcastle three behind.
For the Gunners, all of Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Christian Norgaard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Viktor Gyokeres have missed matches. Multiple players, namely Odegaard and Trossard, have sustained several setbacks.
Max Dowman will now also be absent. Arteta has also spoken about the frustration of these issues.
"Losing Max again, it's obviously not ideal, with Leo, who is just coming back, that we have to manage the minutes. Willy is still not there.
"We've not got Big Gabi, and we have other players that they could only play certain minutes. Like, for example, Riccy [Calafiori] the other day.
"But it's a situation that we have managed since the beginning of the season. We are in December, so it's been almost five months in a remarkable way, and we're going to continue."
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