Arsenal stars Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shed light on the injury concerns surrounding defenders Gabriel Magalhães and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of their crucial Champions League encounter against AS Monaco on Wednesday.
The Gunners are struggling with a mounting injury crisis, with seven first-team players sidelined for the match. Among them is Gabriel Magalhães, a defensive stalwart for Arsenal, who is dealing with a muscular problem. Arteta attributed the Brazilian’s injury to the demanding schedule of club and international fixtures.
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“Big Gabi has not had a muscular injury before, but he is playing a lot now,” Arteta explained. “He is traveling, going to Brazil, and he’s a starter with Brazil.” Gabriel, who has missed Arsenal’s last two matches, continues his recovery, and his absence has been a significant blow to the Gunners’ defensive line.
Gabriel Magalhaes
Gabriel Magalhaes (Image credit: Getty Images)
Adding to Arsenal’s woes, summer signing Riccardo Calafiori is also unavailable. The Italian defender, who joined Arsenal from Bologna in a deal potentially worth £42 million, has been plagued by injuries since his arrival. Arteta revealed that Calafiori’s latest setback is a groin issue, keeping him out of training on Tuesday and casting doubt on his availability for Wednesday’s clash.
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“We need a cage there because he wants to go out, train, and play,” said Arteta about Calafiori’s eagerness to return. “We need to calm him down because he is so willing. It started with the national team with a kick, then he had the knee issue. After that, he lost a lot of things. Because of the injuries, he had to play more than we wanted. And then he got the issue in his groin.”
Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori (Image credit: Getty Images)
Calafiori has missed nine games this season due to various injuries, including a knee issue in October and a knock sustained during international duty in September. His absence has compounded Arsenal’s struggles in the full-back area, with Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Thomas Partey also unavailable at times this season.
Arteta acknowledged the physical demands placed on his full-backs, a key tactical position in his system. “It depends on two factors: tactical and in relation to what we do—who we release on the high press and what they have to do in terms of attack,” he said. “It’s certainly different from playing as a holding midfielder, but we are trying to cope with it.”
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