Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta problems stack up as Gary Neville cautions against excuse

Arsenal are preparing for 2 games this week but volition beryllium without respective of their starring lights arsenic Gary Neville claimed their wounded database cannot beryllium utilized arsenic an excuse

Arsenal mislaid crushed successful the Premier League rubric contention astatine the play - but indispensable hole to get consecutive backmost connected the horse.

The Gunners were stunned astatine Bournemouth, who took vantage of a first-half reddish paper fixed to William Saliba to assertion victory. It means they are present 4 points disconnected the Premier League leaders Liverpool, whom they look this Sunday successful a blockbuster clash astatine the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta volition beryllium without his centre-half for that crippled arsenic questions proceed to beryllium asked implicit Arsenal's disciplinary problems with Saliba their 3rd reddish paper of the season. Before that they resume their Champions League run with Shakhtar Donetsk heading to the English capital.

Here's the latest from northbound London.

Injury situation stacks up

Arsenal could beryllium without a fig of cardinal stars for their clashes this week. Skipper Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with the genu wounded that helium sustained past month. Bukayo Saka is besides a uncertainty having pulled retired of planetary work earlier missing the play decision to Bournemouth.

While Arteta is optimistic that they could beryllium backmost successful enactment sooner alternatively than later, the duo are inactive large doubts for Tuesday’s contest. Speaking successful his pre-match property conference, the Spaniard said: “They are closer. Both progressing well. Martin [Odegaard] not fit. With Bukayo let’s spot however helium is with the grooming league aboriginal on.”

Takehiro Tomiyasu remains sidelined, portion Jurrien Timber is besides struggling with his ain fittingness issues. Arteta has besides admitted that the Dutchman could miss the game.

Neville dismisses Arteta excuse

Speaking of missing players - Gary Neville says Arteta cannot usage the lack of cardinal individuals arsenic an excuse aft Arsenal ceded crushed successful the rubric race.

“No Saka, Odegaard oregon Timber against Bournemouth? I get that but we're talking astir playing Bournemouth, who are a bully side, but they person a squad of 20 to woody with Champions League shot and a mates of injuries. We cognize players volition beryllium missing astatine definite points successful the season,” said Neville connected Sky Sports.

“Saka ever plays. If you were going to accidental you miss him once, twice, 3 times successful a play past Bournemouth distant would beryllium 1 of the games you whitethorn say, 'Okay that's good we person a squad to woody with it'. You can't beryllium 1 subordinate away, having a one-match ban, and the level spell from present [high] to present [low]. You person to stay accordant and reliable if you get an injury.”

Webb conspiracy cleared up

The PGMOL person maintained that Howard Webb was listening to VAR audio during Arsenal's nonaccomplishment astatine Bournemouth amid conspiracy theories that helium was influencing decisions. With the crippled goalless successful the archetypal fractional the visiting broadside went down to 10 men erstwhile Saliba was fixed a reddish paper pursuing a situation arsenic the past man.

He bought down Evanilson and VAR jumped successful to assistance referee Rob Jones marque the decision, with the authoritative heading implicit to the surface to reappraisal the decision. Webb was successful the assemblage astatine the Vitality Stadium and was seen holding his telephone and listening to thing via an receptor piece.

Saliba did person his marching orders and it led to immoderate suggesting that Webb was making recommendations from the stands. That thought has rapidly been dismissed and the Premier League referees main was simply listening to the method by which the officials arrived astatine the decision.

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