Within 24 hours of Erik ten Hag claiming that Arsenal have been lucky with injuries, the Gunners have suffered two major setbacks.
The Manchester United manager had taken a sly dig at the Gunners saying that Mikel Arteta has rarely seen his players getting injuries. However, on Thursday, not only were Arsenal knocked out of the Europa League but defenders Tomiyasu and William Saliba picked up knocks in quick succession.
ETH had said(h/t Goal): “We have to deal with it[the injuries] well but Arsenal, all the time their squad is totally available.”
Tomiyasu sustained the knock very early on in the match and had to be taken off in the 9th minute and then in the 21st minute, Saliba was also replaced as well.
Thankfully, the centre-back’s injury is not very serious and he should be fit soon enough but Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury not looking good.
The Arsenal boss had said after the match: ‘Tomiyasu looks pretty serious, for his reaction straight away and what he said to me. Obviously, it’s very early and difficult to know.’
The right-back was seen leaving the stadium on crutches and there’s no way he will be fit for the Palace on Sunday.
According to a report by Football London, Arsenal plan to assess William Saliba over the next 48 hours to see the extent of his injury and determine his availability for Sunday.
Tomiyasu is the backup right-back to Ben White so his injury will not be an immediate concern for Mikel Arteta but if Saliba’s problem is serious then it is going to be a major blow for Arsenal.
Saliba and Gabriel have formed a formidable partnership in central defence and if this partnership is broken then Crystal Palace might have an outside chance at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta is working with a very small squad this season so he cannot afford too many missing players. The absence of Saliba and Tomiyasu is already a big issue and if another defender was to get injured on Sunday then Arsenal’s season will turn on its head within a flash.
