Arteta: “We Refuse to Feel Sorry for Ourselves

Arteta: "We Refuse to Feel Sorry for Ourselves

Mikel Arteta stated that neither he nor his Arsenal players “feel sorry for ourselves,” despite facing injuries to several key players ahead of their Premier League match against in-form Liverpool on Sunday.

The Gunners will be without captain Martin Ødegaard, who has missed the last nine matches due to an injury sustained while on international duty with Norway during the September break.

Winger Bukayo Saka, who exited England’s loss to Greece earlier this month with an injury, participated in some training this week but may not be fit to play.

Defender Riccardo Calafiori is dealing with a knee injury sustained during Arsenal’s recent win over Shakhtar Donetsk, and fellow defender Jurrien Timber has been sidelined for three games due to a muscle issue.

Additionally, center-back William Saliba is unavailable after receiving a red card in the loss to Bournemouth, which leaves Arteta potentially fielding a team against league leaders Liverpool without five key players.

“This is the game,” Arteta acknowledged.

“Of course, we didn’t want to find ourselves in this situation, but we are fortunate to have the squad, the players, and the mindset that we do. When it comes to facing tough challenges, we refuse to feel sorry for ourselves; we confront them head-on.

“We know our strengths and how challenging we can be for our opponents. I love having that ruthless mentality within the team.”

Arteta described the status of injured players Saka, Calafiori, and Timber as “very uncertain,” while keeping his plans for replacing the suspended Saliba under wraps.

“We have various options in defense,” Arteta noted. “The partnership between Saliba and Gabriel has been solid, but we need to find a solution. There’s a lot happening in our backline, but we’ve adapted, and our versatile players have been invaluable.

“We had a day off after the Champions League and two days to prepare for this match. It’s a significant game, a great opportunity, and we relish these kinds of matches at the Emirates. The team is eager for it.

We need to maintain our dominance and confidence. Our belief, energy, and commitment are crucial for a big match like this. Arne Slot’s team has made an impressive start; they’re in excellent form and have been competing at the highest level for nine years.

Read More: Latest Arsenal Injury Updates: Ødegaard, Saka, and Timber Ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk Clash

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