Cristhian Mosquera went off injured against Brentford.placeholder image
Cristhian Mosquera went off injured against Brentford. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta is having to manage fitness problems for Cristhian Mosquera, Leandro Trossard and other Arsenal stars.
Arsenal suffered just a second defeat of the Premier League season so far as Aston Villa picked up a very late 2-1 win over the Gunners at Villa Park on Saturday.
That early kick-off was Mikel Arteta’s side’s third game in six days as a hectic fixture period continues to gather pace ahead of the festive spell. Arsenal are back in action against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday before hosting Wolves on Saturday night.
Those minutes are beginning to take their toll on players’ fitness. Here’s your latest Arsenal injury update.
Cristhian Mosquera
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was unable to provide a firm update on the severity of a muscle problem picked up by Cristhian Mosquera in the 2-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday night. However, after defeat to Aston Villa, the Gunners boss had a more detailed update which is not good news for the London outfit.
The centre-back has injured his ankle and is expected to be out of action for ‘weeks’. Arteta said: “He’s going to be out for weeks. Unfortunately, it’s much more than what we expected, the way he was feeling. So, he’s going to be out for weeks.”
Jurrien Timber came on to replace the summer signing against Brentford and was once again deployed in an unconventional centre-back role against Aston Villa with Arsenal short of options in the position.
Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard returned from injury against Aston Villa and picked up where he left off in the Premier League, in fine goalscoring form. The winger netted a leveller for the Gunners at Villa Park having replaced Eberechi Eze at half time.
However, Trossard was then subbed off again just before 90 minutes with Arteta confirming that he felt a recent ankle injury. The manager said: “He was really good. We knew he is another player coming back from injury and he started to feel it again so we had to take him off.”
William Saliba
William Saliba was an unexpected absentee against Chelsea last weekend having picked up a knock in training. The centre-back had a potential comeback booked in against Brentford and against Aston Villa, but made the matchday squad for neither.
Arteta had said that the lay-off would just be ‘days’, pointing to an imminent return. That’s a relief given the latest on Mosquera.
Gabriel
Gabriel is another big miss at the back but will not return before William Saliba. The Brazilian picked up an abductor injury over the last international break and was ruled out for ‘weeks’.
Speaking on Tuesday, ahead of Brentford, Arteta said: “Big Gabi is doing very well as well, but that’s weeks as well.”
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz remains Arsenal’s longest term absentee. He has not played since undergoing surgery on a knee injury picked up against Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season.
The striker then suffered a setback in his recovery on international duty recently but Arteta said on Tuesday: “A matter of weeks. Let’s see how he evolves in the next few weeks. He is doing really well, he is doing stuff on the pitch, but I think he needs some time.
“He was doing everything. He could not go to the next level and now it is looking like we have unlocked that. We are all desperate to have him. I mean it is a player that, personally, I love so much for what he brings to the team - his character, his personality. I see him suffer, being outside.
“His playing record is phenomenal, he has always been available and I cannot wait to have him back around the team, playing, because I think it is going to be a massive boost.”
In other news, Liverpool and Arsenal 'preparing bids' for £74m star as 'transfer list' claims emerge.
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