In a stunning turn of events at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal saw their Premier League title hopes take a significant hit after squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa. But the dropped points were not the only cause for concern, as manager Mikel Arteta admitted he is “very worried” about the hamstring injury suffered by defensive stalwart William Saliba.
Saliba’s Absence Looms Large
The France international, who missed the Villa clash entirely after picking up the injury in the midweek win over Tottenham, is an integral part of Arsenal’s backline. His absence in the second half of last season due to a back issue played a significant role in the Gunners losing ground to eventual champions Manchester City.
Arteta, visibly concerned, said, “For sure [we are worried], especially with the numbers we have in the squad and looking at our bench. Very worried.” The Arsenal boss expects to have more clarity on the severity of Saliba’s injury after further tests.
Defensive Reshuffle and Costly Errors
With Saliba out, Arteta was forced to get creative with his lineup. Jurriën Timber shifted to center-back alongside Gabriel, while midfielder Thomas Partey filled in at right-back. Despite taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, Arsenal’s makeshift defense couldn’t hold on.
Villa fought back, with Youri Tielemans heading home to halve the deficit before Ollie Watkins equalized with a sumptuous volley. Arteta was quick to criticize his side’s defending, particularly for the second goal.
“We can fault ourselves as well because defending the way we did especially with one of the goals, it cannot be part of our game if we want to be at the highest level in this country.”
– Mikel Arteta
Saliba’s Importance Highlighted
The numbers paint a stark picture of Saliba’s importance to Arsenal. With the Frenchman in the team, the Gunners boast a 72% win rate. However, in the games he has missed since joining the club, that figure plummets to just 38%.
As second-placed Arsenal now find themselves six points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand, Arteta hinted at potential reinforcements in the January transfer window to bolster his thin squad.
Key Takeaways
- Arsenal drop crucial points in 2-2 draw with Aston Villa
- William Saliba’s hamstring injury has Mikel Arteta “very worried”
- Saliba’s absence forces defensive reshuffle and costly errors
- Arsenal’s win rate drops significantly without Saliba in the team
- Arteta hints at January transfer window activity to bolster squad
As the Premier League title race heats up, Arsenal will be desperately hoping for good news on Saliba’s injury. With the squad already stretched thin, losing their defensive talisman for an extended period could be a hammer blow to the Gunners’ championship aspirations.
