Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he has manage Gabriel Magalhães and Riccardo Calafiori’s minutes as both players are dealing with an injury ‘issue’.
The Brazilian defender was taken off at halftime of the Gunners’ 5-2 win at West Ham United after receiving a punch in the head from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski as both men went for a cross in the box.
Gabriel‘s substitution was unrelated to the collision, however, as the 26-year-old was carrying a knock he sustained in the 5-1 win over Sporting CP during the week.
“It was related to the previous injury he had in Lisbon,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “He did great to be a part of that. With that result and the state he is feeling, we decided to take him off.”
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Arteta also revealed that Calafiori has been dealing with niggles in recent weeks after replacing the left-back with Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 56th minute.
“Well, he’s been dealing with little niggles in the last few weeks, obviously, he’s had a very serious knee injury and he’s doing really well but we have to manage his minutes. Today we have to do the same.”
Bukayo Saka was substituted later in the second half, but the Arsenal had coach said the winger is “fine”.
Arteta added that he has to manage his squad as they enter a hectic period of the Premier League campaign, particularly with five players sidelined. Thomas Partey (muscle) and Mikel Merino (knee) missed the game due to new injuries, while youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly sustained an issue on Friday. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu were already on the treatment table.
“Yeah, very important. We had an issue with Gabby and then an issue with Ricci as well,” he said. “We knew before the game we were going to make substitutions because of the state of players.
“Obviously yesterday we lost Thomas and Mikel and Myles which was very bad news but what I am really happy about is Jakub (Kiwior) has to come in, he does really well, Alex (Zinchenko) the same, Jorginho I think he was exceptional.
“That’s the level, every three days we’re going to need everyone at their best and it’s a good sign the team can do that. I am very pleased.”
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