Arsenal face Monaco in the Champions League tonight with up to seven defenders missing but Mikel Arteta has taken on an air of acceptance following cruel run of injuries
Mikel Arteta is facing a mounting injury crisis as Arsenal battle on four fronts
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Mikel Arteta is expected to name a tenth different defensive combination against Monaco - only four months into a season that he previously admitted has been a nightmare on the injury front.
And for a manager who so often hails the importance of players being familiar with each other’s nuances, the prospect of sending out another unfamiliar back line would ordinarily be a reason for frustration.
Yet a seven-man injury list, featuring six players capable of playing at full-back, has now reached a stage where Arteta is beginning to accept it as a challenge rather than rail against causes.
“It is what it is,” he said. “The good thing is it’s not conditioning the team in such a way where we have to become a different team. I’m very pleased with that, the way the team is adapting and the way players are making the effort to play in different positions.”
Mikel Arteta confirms full extent of chronic Arsenal injury crisis with 7 missing
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But who starts on the left and right side of defence against a Monaco side with their own defensive absentees to contend with appears a lucky dip.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain definite absentees and Arteta was typically coy when asked if any of the other five who missed yesterday’s training session could be passed fit.
Some, he hinted, will be given every opportunity to prove their fitness. Equally the risk of aggravating a problem further means he is minded to be cautious.
Arteta expects so much from his full backs, expecting them to cover more ground than any other position and often tuck in as inverted midfielders.
Kieran Tierney and Leandro Trossard before Arsenal's training session on Tuesday.
Kieran Tierney and Leandro Trossard before Arsenal's training session on Tuesday.
And when it was put to him that those demands could be a contributing factor to the high number of muscle injuries for a specific area of his squad, the short answer was simply: “I don’t know.”
He added: “It depends on two factors - tactical and in relation to what we do, who do we release on the high press and what do they have to do in terms of attack. But certainly at least it is different to playing as a holding midfielder. That is something that is not ideal but we are trying to cope with it.”
Captain Martin Odegaard has had his own injury issues to contend with earlier this season but he is now fighting fit and further buoyed by last week becoming a father.
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard has overcome his own injury issues
And Odegaard, who says he has still been getting plenty of sleep thanks to wife Helene, said: “Having a baby is the biggest gift, most beautiful thing in life.
“That takes your mind off everything else in that moment. It’s important to switch off when you get home.
“It’s only been a week but so far it’s going well and my wife is really amazing and doing a great job. I’m really lucky with her, you know.”
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