Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have lost yet another key figure as the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk came at a cost.
An own goal from Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk proved to be the difference as he fumbled an effort from Gabriel Martinelli into the goal, giving the Gunners their second Champions League win of the season.
Leandro Trossard had a golden chance to double Arsenal‘s advantage from the penalty spot in the second half but Riznyk redeemed himself with a big stop.
But Gunners fans may be more concerned about the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori rather than the result.
The Italian defender was forced off in the second half after his knee turned inward when slipping over on the turf.
Calafiori appeared to be okay at first but was unable to continue as Myles Lewis-Skelly came on in his place in the 72nd minute.
Ben White also came off during the game against Shakhtar but Arteta confirmed post-match his substitution was purely tactical as the defender he was on a yellow card.
The loss of Calafiori would be the last thing Arteta needs given the club’s worrying absentee list ahead of the crunch clash against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Star winger Bukayo Saka sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty for England earlier in October.
Speaking after the Shakhtar match, Arteta could not offer any assurances regarding Saka’s return nor were there any clear updates on Calafiori.
“I don’t know because he (Saka) wasn’t able to train yet so that’s unlikely,” Arteta said.
Regarding Calafiori, Arteta added: “With Riccy, he had to come off because he felt something. I don’t know the extent of it but it’s not good news.”
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Arsenal will already be without captain Martin Odegaard as he continues to recover from an ankle injury he picked up while playing for Norway in September.
Arteta can already plan without William Saliba as he is suspended due to the red card he picked up in the 2-0 loss to Bournemouth last weekend.
Jurrien Timber is another injury concern given he did not make the bench for the Bournemouth or Shakhtar match.
Should Calafiori, Timber, Saka and Odegaard be unable to feature against Liverpool, it would leave Arteta without five key players.
Given the razor-thin margins in the title race from previous seasons, losing five vital stars for the Liverpool game could prove to be a killer blow in the Gunners’ title hopes.
Liverpool sit top of the Premier League on 21 points while Arsenal are in third on 17.
A win for Arne Slot’s side would give them a sizeable gap over Arsenal in the ladder, while the latter could drop to as low as sixth by the end of the matchweek.
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Aston Villa, Brighton and Chelsea sit on 17, 15 and 14 points respectively, although the Blues share the same goal difference as Arsenal of +7.
However, Arteta issued a warning to anyone who’s writing his team off ahead of Liverpool’s visit.
“Believe me, on Sunday we will be flying,” Arteta said in his press conference.
