Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is grappling with a fresh defensive injury crisis ahead of a pivotal Premier League encounter with title rivals Aston Villa. The Gunners head into Tuesday night's clash at the Emirates Stadium with significant concerns over key defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber.
Defensive Blows for Arteta's Backline
The situation worsened just before the weekend's 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Riccardo Calafiori aggravated an issue during the pre-match warm-up, forcing his late withdrawal. Arteta revealed the Italian international felt "something very awkward" in training the day before and was "not comfortable" ahead of kick-off.
While the club is assessing the centre-back, and some reports suggest he could still be in contention, he is considered a major doubt for the visit of Unai Emery's side. This compounds problems in defence, coming just days after Jurrien Timber was ruled out of the Brighton match.
The Dutch defender suffered his setback after "landing awkwardly" during the midweek Carabao Cup win against Crystal Palace. His availability for the Villa game now hinges on a late fitness test, leaving Arteta potentially without two crucial defensive options.
Injury Updates Across the Squad
There is a glimmer of positive news in attack, however. Kai Havertz has returned to full training after a four-month absence due to a knee injury. The German narrowly missed selection for the Brighton squad, but Arteta indicated his comeback is now a "matter of days," opening the door for a possible return against Villa.
In Havertz's prolonged absence, Arsenal's striking options have included Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus, with Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard also having operated in a false nine role.
The injury list extends further. Full-back Ben White, who suffered a problem in the mid-December match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, has not yet rejoined full training and is expected to miss the Villa fixture to ensure full recovery in the New Year.
Cristhian Mosquera remains sidelined with an ankle injury for the festive period, while youngster Max Dowman is out for the foreseeable future with ankle ligament damage sustained earlier this month.
Available Options for Villa Showdown
With these absences, Arsenal's fit defensive contingent currently consists of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Piero Hincapie, and William Saliba. There is hope that Gabriel Magalhaes could be an option after making a comeback from his own injury with a late substitute appearance against Brighton.
The mounting injury issues present a serious challenge for Arteta as he prepares his team to face an Aston Villa side that defeated them at Villa Park just weeks ago. The result of this high-stakes match could have significant implications for the Premier League title race, making the fitness of key players more critical than ever.
