The international break has been a pitiful one for Arsenal as they lost two of their defenders, Gabriel Magalhães and Riccardo Calafiori, to injuries.
Calafiori, aged 23, had to pull out from the Italian side due to some injury issue but manager Gennaro Gattuso did not get into details of the problem. Initial reports indicate the injury is not serious and still Arsenal will take a look at him when he gets back to London.
The condition of the Brazilian, however, is much worse from Arteta’s point of view. The Brazilian defender, who has been among the best centre-backs in the Premier League started for Brazil in a friendly game against Senegal at the Emirates Stadium but had to be subbed off mid-way holding his right groin. He called for a substitution immediately and supported by the medical staff left the field after getting treatment.
This injury problem is something of a disaster for Arsenal who will be playing one awful fixture after another as soon as they get back from the break. The Gunners will first face Tottenham in the north London derby and then be up against Bayern Munich and Chelsea all within a span of eight days.
The solid defensive lineup of Arsenal has been one of the main reasons for their success this season as they have conceded just five goals in all competitions. But the team’s fresh defensive worries along with the already injured main attackers might hold them back. The likes of Piero Hincapié, Cristhian Mosquera, and youth talent Myles Lewis-Skelly may now get their chance.
