REVEALED: THE SECRET ARSENAL INJURY CRISIS THAT MIKEL ARTETA IS DESPERATELY HIDING NOW
Arsenal receive a massive boost for the Carabao Cup quarter-final as Crystal Palace suffers a triple injury blow.
Arsenal might catch a break before their Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace. Palace is dealing with a bunch of injuries right now.
The Gunners are hosting Oliver Glasner's team at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, and a spot in the semi-finals is up for grabs. Arsenal has been to the semi-finals twice in the last five years, but they haven't been to the final since 2018.
On the other hand, Palace had a great run in the FA Cup last year and won, but they haven't done so well in the Carabao Cup. Arsenal knocked them out last season at this stage, and they haven't seen the semi-finals since 2012.
Both teams played in the Premier League on Saturday night. Arsenal barely won 1-0 against Everton with a penalty from Viktor Gyokeres, while Palace lost to Leeds United.
The short time to get ready for Tuesday's game will be tough for both teams, especially Palace, who have more and more players getting injured. The loss at Elland Road wasn't the only bad news for Glasner this weekend, as Football London says he might have even more players unavailable.
To make things worse for Palace, Ismalia Sarr will be gone representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations against Botswana on Tuesday.
Defender Daniel Munoz is still out because of a knee issue that needs surgery. He won't be back until at least the end of January, so he'll miss Tuesday's game.
Glasner told reporters earlier this month that they will miss Dani for a few weeks while he gets surgery. He should be ready to play four to six weeks after, but you never know after surgery, so they are always careful, but it is not too serious.
Palace is also watching striker Jean-Philippe Mateta closely since he's had a knee problem recently. He played in the game against Leeds but was taken out with just over 10 minutes left.
The packed schedule could give Glasner a tough choice before Tuesday's game, since the French forward has been playing with discomfort, and they're limiting how much he plays. It's not sure if he'll be available for the Arsenal game, but if he is out, it would be a big problem for Palace.
Also, Daichi Kamada will be out for the next few weeks. The midfielder hurt his hamstring earlier this month and will be out for several weeks, so he can't play against the Gunners.
Of course, Arsenal also has their own injury problems. Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, and Gabriel are the defenders they're worried about right now.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
