Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta don open up say Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Riccardo Calafiori all collect small injury wahala for their 1-0 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Gunners knack Palace 1-0 for Emirates Stadium, thanks to former Palace star Eberechi Eze wey score for first half. That win mean say Arsenal don gather 22 points from their first nine games, and dem dey top for Premier League table.
Arteta boys dey six points clear of fifth-place Manchester City and seven points ahead of seventh-place Liverpool, but the coach dey hope say all these small injury issues no go scatter their title rhythm.
For the match against Palace, Arsenal bin make plenty substitutions as injury begin show face. Arteta talk after the match say him dey particularly worried about Saliba and Martinelli. He yarn reporters say:
“The first one na Saliba, wey obviously gatz come out after first half. Declan too dey struggle from first half with one knock wey he take. Calafiori sef no dey 100%. So make we see how all of dem go recover. For Saliba, e get two things wey join make we substitute am. Declan own, I no too sure — maybe na the calf or the Achilles, we never confirm. We go check am tomorrow.”
Arteta still talk say Martinelli bin feel small discomfort. “He talk say e feel something, but we no sabi yet whether na muscle wahala or something else. Tomorrow we go get better gist.”
He also explain say him remove Bukayo Saka just as precaution because the winger dey battle small illness, but he suppose dey fit soon.
Arsenal Fit Cope Without Saliba and Martinelli?
Arsenal don only concede three goals for Premier League this season, and dem don keep five straight clean sheets across all competitions. William Saliba don be key rock for that defence line for many seasons now, but e no be today Arsenal show say dem fit still defend well without am.
When Saliba miss two games earlier this season after the Liverpool injury, Arsenal still manage keep clean sheets for both games. That one show say their backline don mature and dem fit adapt quickly.
As for Martinelli, the Brazilian winger never too shine this season. He don start just two Premier League games, score one goal, and never still register any assist.
But Arsenal still get other wide options like Leandro Trossard and Eberechi Eze wey fit cover ground if Martinelli go miss time.
Why Arsenal Dey So Far Ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City
Some people don dey criticize Arteta say na set-piece goals him dey rely on, as Arsenal don score 11 of their 16 league goals from dead-ball situations. But if we dey honest, that one still dey work for dem. Liverpool just chop two set-piece goals when Brentford beat dem 3-2 on Saturday, and Manchester City sef lose 1-0 to Aston Villa after dem concede from corner.
Arsenal style this season don get balance — aggressive but cautious. Dem sabi hold ball, win second balls, and press high without leaving too much space behind. Na why dem fit survive the physical nature of the Premier League this season.
Unless Liverpool or City adjust quick, e go hard to stop Arsenal from carrying first. Their defensive discipline and ability to grind results mean say dem no dey lose easily. Compared to Liverpool wey don concede 14 goals already, Arsenal dey look like the team to beat.
LIVE Update Disclaimer
This page go dey updated regularly as fresh information drop from Arsenal camp about Saliba, Rice, Martinelli and others. Na LIVE update be this — make you dey refresh the page steady for latest Arsenal injury gist and squad news.