Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been dealt a significant injury setback ahead of his side's pivotal Champions League encounter with Inter Milan on Tuesday night. The Gunners will be without three key players for the trip to the San Siro as they look to protect their perfect record in Europe.
Defensive Absences for San Siro Test
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Arteta confirmed that defenders Piero Hincapie and Ricardo Calafiori, along with midfielder Max Dowman, will not be available for selection. Hincapie is sidelined with a groin injury that has now kept him out of the last three matches. Calafiori's absence is more prolonged, with the Italian missing seven consecutive games due to a muscle problem. Dowman, meanwhile, is struggling with an ankle issue.
This news comes after a frustrating 0-0 Premier League draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, a match in which Arteta rotated his squad. The manager revealed post-match that star winger Bukayo Saka was only a substitute due to a minor "niggle," highlighting the growing physical demands on the squad.
Arteta's Squad Management Challenge
With his team still competing on all four fronts, Arteta emphasised the critical "need to manage our players." The clash with Inter represents Arsenal's fourth consecutive away game across different competitions. A mammoth home fixture against Manchester United in the Premier League looms on Sunday, further complicating selection decisions.
"We have to adapt to that," Arteta stated. "That's the beauty of playing in different competitions and being in the latest stages of those in all of them... I think that's a blessing, that's something really, really positive."
There was some positive news, however, with Arteta confirming that Kai Havertz and Cristhian Mosquera are fit and will be involved against the Italian giants. The manager remained coy on whether he would make widespread changes to his starting eleven, telling reporters, "Let's see. After tomorrow, after a really good night of sleep, we'll see how it goes."
The Long Road Ahead for the Gunners
Tuesday's match will be Arsenal's 33rd of a potentially gruelling campaign. If they progress to the final of every competition, they could face an astonishing 65 games by the season's end. Arteta's philosophy for navigating this schedule is simple: focus on the immediate challenge.
"I think we have to go game by game," he explained. "We can try to look ahead, but what is coming and what is relevant is the next match... Go game by game, enjoy the journey that we are in because it's great and go for it every single game."
Arsenal travel to Italy sitting top of their Champions League group after winning all six of their matches so far. They will need to overcome these fresh injury concerns to maintain that flawless record against a formidable Inter side.
