The result may have been different but it could prove to be another costly night for Arsenal with their huge Premier League match with Liverpool on the horizon. The Gunners returned to winning ways on Tuesday.
But their 1-0 Champions League victory at home to Shakhtar Donetsk was marred by an injury to Riccardo Calafiori, which means Mikel Arteta could be without up to seven players for the visit of table-topping Liverpool to the Emirates on Sunday (4.30pm).
Gunners boss Arteta claims that his Arsenal side will be “flying” come the showdown with the Reds. But there is no getting away from the fact that he will not be able to call on a number of vital performers for one of the biggest games of the season so far.
Summer signing Calafiori came off with 20 minutes remaining against Shakhtar after appearing to have injured his knee. The Italy international initially tried to play on after receiving treatment but soon realised he could not and was replaced by teenage Myles Lewis-Skelly.
“Riccy I don’t know, he felt something,” Arteta said of Calafiori to Amazon Prime Sport. “He could not continue playing, so bit of a worry.”
In his press conference, the Spaniard was asked further on the condition of the versatile £42m man. “With Riccy he had to come off because he felt something,” he said. “I don’t know the extent of it so in that sense not great news.”
Losing another defender is the last thing Arteta needs. He will definitely be without star centre-back William Saliba against Liverpool after he incurred a one-match suspension after being sent off in Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth. It was a result that left third-placed Arsenal four points behind the leaders and three points behind second-placed Manchester City.
Arteta was boosted by the return of Ben White on Tuesday and confirmed that his withdrawal at half-time was not injury related. “Ben, it was my decision to take him out,” he said.
“He had a yellow card and we’ve played enough with 10 men in recent periods. They had a lot of density on that side, a lot of players on that side, so I didn’t want to take any chances there.”
The Gunners have three other defenders on the sidelines in Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney. Only Timber is thought to stand any chance of returning against Liverpool.
Arsenal also have major fitness issues further up the field. Captain Martin Odegaard has not played since August 31 after suffering a serious ankle injury while on Norway international duty last month.
The midfielder said in his programme notes for the Shakhtar clash: “I’ve been working very hard on my recovery in the past few weeks, and missing out on big Champions League nights like this just makes me more determined and motivated to get back as soon as possible.
“I’m feeling better and better each day, but when it’s an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well. Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general it’s getting better and I feel like I’m getting closer now
And as well as Odegaard, Arteta admits it is “unlikely” that Bukayo Saka will be fit to face the Reds on Sunday. The winger has been absent for the Gunners’ last two games after sustaining a hamstring injury while playing for England.
“I don’t know (if Saka will be fit),” said Arteta. “He hasn’t been able to train yet so that’s unlikely.”
Liverpool currently have five players either unavailable or doubtful for the trip to Arsenal in goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defender Conor Bradley, midfielder Harvey Elliott and forwards Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota.
