Arsenal’s injury crisis shows no sign of easing, with Mikel Arteta confirming a worrying double blow ahead of the Gunners’ Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The North London side travel across the capital for what is shaping up to be one of their most demanding fixtures of the season, but preparations have been severely disrupted by further fitness concerns within Arteta’s squad.
Arteta Confirms Saliba and Trossard Injury Concerns
Ahead of the blockbuster cup encounter, Arteta faced the media and delivered news that will have alarmed Arsenal supporters. It had been widely assumed that William Saliba and Leandro Trossard were simply rested during the recent FA Cup victory over Portsmouth. However, the Arsenal manager confirmed that this was not the case.
Both players are now dealing with fitness issues and are serious doubts to feature against Chelsea.
The potential absence of Saliba would be particularly damaging for Arsenal, given his importance at the heart of the defence. The French centre-back has been one of Arteta’s most reliable performers this season, providing composure, physical presence, and leadership at the back.
Trossard’s situation is also concerning, as the Belgian forward has been a key attacking option, offering versatility across the front line and a consistent goal threat in big matches.
Arsenal’s Defensive Options Severely Limited
The problems do not end there. Arteta also confirmed that Piero Hincapié and Riccardo Calafiori remain unavailable, with both players still sidelined through injury. Their continued absence further weakens Arsenal’s defensive depth at a crucial stage of the season.
With Saliba, Trossard, Hincapié, Calafiori and Mosquera all doubts for the clash at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal’s defensive resources are stretched to the limit.
As it stands, Arsenal’s list of available defenders includes:
Gabriel Magalhães
Ben White Myles
Lewis-Skelly
16-year-old Marli Salmon
Relying on such a thin defensive group underlines the scale of the challenge facing Arteta, especially against a Chelsea side capable of exploiting weaknesses in transition and set-piece situations.
Chelsea Test Comes at a Difficult Time
Chelsea arrive into the semi-final in impressive form and will view Arsenal’s injury problems as a potential opportunity. With the first leg taking place at Stamford Bridge, the home side will be eager to establish an advantage before the return fixture.
Despite the mounting injury concerns, Arsenal still possess enough quality and tactical discipline to remain competitive. However, the margin for error is now significantly reduced, and Arteta may be forced into tactical adjustments to compensate for the lack of defensive depth.
Arteta Faces Major Tactical Decisions
How Arsenal set up against Chelsea could prove decisive. With limited options available at the back, Arteta may opt for a more cautious approach, prioritising defensive structure and control in midfield to protect his back line.
While Arsenal have shown resilience throughout the season, this latest double injury blow represents one of their toughest tests yet. Whether the Gunners can navigate these challenges and return from Stamford Bridge with a positive result remains to be seen.
One thing is clear: Arsenal’s depth and adaptability will be pushed to the limit in a semi-final that already carried massive stakes.
