Arsenal enjoyed their biggest win of the title race so far as Mikel Arteta’s men picked up a dramatic 1-0 victory away at relegation-threatened West Ham United on Sunday.
Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Brentford 24 hours prior had piled the pressure onto the Gunners.
They knew that they needed to leave East London with all three points if they were to keep their destiny in their own hands with just two games remaining this season, and ultimately, they were up to the task.
Arsenal take a huge stride towards the title
For 80-plus minutes, it looked like it would be a frustrating afternoon for the Premier League leaders. Then, with seven minutes of normal time remaining, the game burst into life.
Leandro Trossard gave the visitors the lead, slotting home after fine work inside the penalty area from captain Martin Odegaard, and it looked as though that would be enough for three massive points. Then, arguably the most controversial refereeing decision of the season spared the Gunners’ blushes.
West Ham thought they had found a precious late equaliser from Callum Wilson in the 94th minute, as the veteran English striker bundled home from close range after a corner kick caused chaos in the Arsenal penalty area.
VAR, however, after nearly five minutes of deliberation, advised that the referee rule out the goal after a foul on goalkeeper David Raya by Hammers striker Pablo. Chris Kavanagh duly obliged, ruling out the last-gasp equaliser, and Arsenal clung on to win 1-0, which could well be enough to seal a first title in 22 years.
But it wasn’t just the chaotic ending to the game that would have caused manager Mikel Arteta anxiety. Right-back Ben White had to be substituted in the first half and was seen wearing a knee brace on the Gunners bench after his removal.
Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori also had to be substituted at half-time, with Arteta confirming to Sky Sports post-game that he too had picked up a knock. And with the World Cup looming, White is the one sweating over his fitness more than Califiori, whose Italy side was eliminated by Bosnia in the qualifying playoffs.
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So, with two more names potentially added to Arsenal’s injury list for an unknown amount of time, which current Gunners stars are in danger of missing this summer’s World Cup due to injury concerns? Let’s take a look.
Mikel Merino
Online betting sites have a clear favourite in mind when it comes to this summer’s World Cup. Barely a month out from the tournament, the latest World Cup odds make reigning European Champions Spain the clear 9/2 frontrunner to leave MetLife Stadium with the title on July 19th.
If they are to do exactly that, though, they may well have to do it without one of the stars of their successful Euro 2024 campaign, Mikel Merino.
Arsenal’s central midfielder turned part-time striker netted a crucial last-gasp winner in the dying embers of the extra time victory against hosts Germany in the quarter-finals of that Euro success two years ago. He was then in fine fettle throughout Spain’s World Cup qualifiers as well, scoring a blistering hat-trick in the 6-0 demolition of Turkey, as well as three goals against Bulgaria — two at home and one in Sofia.
Merino had become a key piece of the puzzle at the Emirates as well, thriving in a makeshift striker role towards the back end of last season before netting six goals and providing three assists this term as well. However, the Spaniard suffered a broken foot in the 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United back in January, and he hasn’t featured for the Gunners since.
The former Real Sociedad man is expected to return before the end of the season, perhaps being fit in time for the upcoming Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. However, whether his lack of minutes throughout the second half of the season causes him to miss out on Luis de la Fuente’s World Cup squad remains to be seen.
Jurrien Timber
Jurrien Timber has been sidelined since the end of March with an ankle injury picked up in the clash with Everton. The injury was just thought to be a minor knock, but the versatile defender hasn’t featured in over six weeks now.
It was rumoured that Timber had surgery on his ankle, and manager Mikel Arteta said that neither he nor Merino will feature in the league again this season. Whether he will be fit in time to rejoin the Netherlands squad ahead of the World Cup is currently unknown, as is much about the injury and how it has become as serious as it has.
Ben White
White has suffered an MCL injury. He will likely have to undergo further tests with the Arsenal medical staff to determine the severity of the situation.
One man who will be watching on with bated breath is England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has recently reinstated the defender to his Three Lions squad. Only time will tell as to whether the knock is a serious one or if the knee brace against West Ham was simply precautionary.