Arsenal is facing increasing challenges ahead of a crucial Premier League match against Liverpool this weekend.
With important attacking players Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, along with defender Jurrien Timber already injured, Arsenal experienced another setback when left-back Riccardo Calafiori had to leave the field in the second half of their 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday due to a twisted right knee.
“He felt something, he could not continue playing,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta about the Italian defender. “Bit of a worry.”
Center back William Saliba is also expected to miss the match against Liverpool because he is suspended after receiving a red card in the loss to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Odegaard, Arsenal’s captain, is almost certainly out as he is still recovering from an ankle injury he got last month. There is also uncertainty regarding Saka, who appeared to injure his hamstring while playing for England last week.
Saka did not play against Bournemouth or Shakhtar, and Arteta was not very hopeful about the winger being available for the Liverpool match on Sunday.
“He wasn’t able to train yet, so that’s unlikely,” Arteta said.
