Arsenal thrashed Wigan Athletic 4-0 to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup but Mikel Arteta saw two key players add to the club’s lengthening injury list
Ben White (L) is substituted out for Arsenal's Spanish defender #36 Martin Zubimendi
Ben White had to come off in Arsenal's win over Wigan(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta fears Arsenal’s Quadruple bid could be derailed after Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White joined the club’s lengthening injury list.
The Premier League leaders beat League One Wigan 4-0 to reach the FA Cup fifth round. But the Italian defender pulled out after suffering an injury in the warm-up while White was subbed off in the second half.
Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino are already out while captain Martin Odegaard suffered a knee injury last week and was left out of the FA Cup squad.
“We have to wait and see in the next 48 hours how things develop,” said Arteta. “Martin picked that knock on the action when we conceded the goal and he wasn't fit for today.”
Arsenal host Wolves on Wednesday and then visit Tottenham on Sunday. Asked if he was worried about his squad getting thin because of injuries, the Gunners boss responded: “Yes, and especially because we are going through, before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders, now it's the midfielders, but we are still coping with that.
"We need some players back and fit and to give us as well not only numbers, but different options in relation to the opponents that we have, so the quicker they are, the better.”
Riccardo Calafiori was in line to start before picking up an issue in the warm up
Riccardo Calafiori was in line to start before picking up an issue in the warm up
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Eberechi Eze stood in for Odegaard in midfield and provided assists for the first two goals. “I think the risks that he took in the final third, the amount of shots that he tried to take as well, I think that's really positive, that's what I want from him,” said Arteta.
“He is playing a big role, he's played a lot of games for us and he will continue to do that."
Caretaker Wigan boss Graham Barrow said: "Probably a relief at the end - the players really showed what they were about in the second half. The club has got to move on very quickly.”
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