Arsenal‘s victory over Crystal Palace was anything but costly. The team managed to score only one goal and maintain a unipolar position at the Premier League table. They are now four points ahead of the second-best team. The win also raised speculations about a possible injury crisis. Mikel Arteta’s substitutions had more to do with the injuries to four key players which put the team at a costly disadvantage, thus immediately testing the squad’s depth with the number of fixtures in the calendar.
New Injury Concerns After the Palace Clash
Their focus right away will be on an injury that could cause one or more of the players to miss out on some of that fixture list. The rebuilding effects of the Palace match witnessed with four first-team players. William Saliba was off at half-time due to a knock — he will require more assessment. Declan Rice has also had some concerns come from the match in the first half and was also off the pitch, with the club to provide an update on the severity following a review. Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori was taken off late in the match, and to add to the intrigue, Gabriel Martinelli felt something after coming on as a substitute, and is also being monitored for a potential muscular issue. Arteta confirmed they are checking all of those players for more in-depth analysis and costly injuries before they even face Brighton in Carabao Cup midweek.
Positive Signs in Longer-Term Recoveries
While the team is dealing with fresh injury issues, there is some positive news regarding the club’s longer term absences. Captain Martin Ødegaard is recovering well from his MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury. The optimistic scenario for his return would be for the Premier League north London derby against Tottenham on November 23. Ødegaard is not the only attacking player who is recovering from injury. Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke are in rehabilitation as well. Havertz is “progressing really well” after knee surgery, and while Madueke has a less serious injury (could have been an ACL), he is still in a brace and expecting to return in November.
Navigating the Upcoming Fixtures
Mikel Arteta knows the next priority will be dealing with the fitness of the full squad. The new injuries to Saliba, Rice, and others pose a real challenge. However, the possible return of Ødegaard, Havertz, and Madueke in November will strengthen the squad. In many ways it will feel like new signings.
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