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Arteta has lost a key player | Getty Images
Arsenal have lost a key player to injury as the busy festive period begins to take hold.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed an injury blow after Arsenal’s dramatic late win over Wolves. The Gunners made hard work of the Premier League’s bottom club, who are still looking for their first win of the season.
Arsenal took the lead through Sam Johnstone in the 74th minute only for Tolu Arokodare to level with a clever header on the stroke of the 90. But the Gunners showed their champion credentials by still finding a route to three points, with Cristhian Mosquera flicking home a superb Bukayo Saka cross deep into stoppage time.
The win means Arsenal’s lead at the top cannot be eroded any further after it was reduced to two points last weekend. Arteta’s men are now five points clear ahead of Manchester City facing Crystal Palace in a tricky clash on Sunday.
It certainly wasn’t a vintage Arsenal performance, but it’s another important three points in a busy period where results matter much more than performances. But there was one big negative from the result, with Ben White suffering an injury setback which, thankfully, wasn’t related to the knee he has had trouble with in recent times.
”Obviously he hasn't played a lot of minutes because of the previous knee issue that he had, then the moment he started to get some momentum he had to play a lot because we didn't have any other solution,” Arteta said after the game. “We had to even risk Wilo today because probably it wasn't their best call to play 90 minutes because we were buying tickets for another injury, but we don't have anybody else, but yeah that's bad news for sure.
“It looks like a hamstring [injury], so we don't know the extent of that, but probably tomorrow or the day after we'll know more.”
The injury comes before a run of games that will see Arsenal take on Everton away, Crystal Palace at home in the Carabao Coup and Brighton at home in the league.
Arteta on the Wolves win
Speaking on the win itself, Arteta said:”It was a relief, but a very clear understanding that the margin should have been bigger. After not being precise enough in the first half with the amount of situations that we generated inside the opposition box and we didn't pick the right colour of shirt on so many occasions, we had an overload to do that.
“We had to improve in the second half in relation to that, I think we did it. We generated more chances, scored a goal, but after we had a period of two or three minutes in deep, totally passive, with horrible defensive habits, that is nowhere near the level that is required against a team that hasn't had a single shot. The first time that they had the opportunity to do it, they scored the goal and this is the Premier League. Unfortunately, we are relieved because we managed to score a goal at the end and go and win it, but we need to improve in that sense for sure.”
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