Arsenal news: Injury crisis reaches new extreme as Mikel Arteta ‘lost the plot’
Arsenal icon Paul Merson has accused Mikel Arteta of “losing the conspiracy” in the north London derby defeat by Tottenham as the Gunners were forced to cancel a friendly due to injuries
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Mikel Arteta reflects on Spurs’ defeat
Arsenal’s injury crisis runs so deep across the squad that the club have been forced to cancel a friendly for their Under-23 side at short notice.
A number of players have been forced into the treatment room in recent weeks – and it has come at the worst possible time, with their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League hanging by a thread. Bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur came within a point of the Gunners thanks to a stunning 3-0 win in the north London derby on Thursday night.
And Arsenal icon Paul Merson has accused Gunners boss Mikel Arteta of “losing the plot” during the Premier League encounter. While Marseille have gone public with a desire to keep William Saliba next season.
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Injury crisis reaches new extreme
Arsenal were forced to cancel a friendly for their Under-23 side at short notice after Mikel Arteta’s side were hit with even more injuries.
Ben White and Kieran Tierney sat out Thursday night’s embarrassing 3-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, which saw Rob Holding conceded a red card and Gabriel Magalhaes hobbled off with an injury. It means the Gunners could run out of options in their next game against Newcastle United on Monday.
And the Gunners have now called off a friendly for their U23s against Farnborough, with the Hampshire club confirming Arsenal had to pull out “at short notice”.
Read the whole story here.
Arteta “lost the thread”
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has accused Mikel Arteta of “losing the conspiracy” in north London’s derby defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs kept their Champions League hopes alive as they put the 10-man arsenal to the sword with a 3-0 win in the crucial Premier League tie. Two goals from Harry Kane and a smart finish from Son Heung-min ensured the top four races will go all the way to the end.
Central defender Rob Holding was also sent off in the 33rd minute and Merson believes Arteta’s tactics did the defender a disservice. The pundit says Arteta “should have given him a chance” by not playing such a high line against Son when he “doesn’t have the pace”.
Read the whole story here.
Marseille makes Saliba’s wish clear
According to manager Jorge Sampaoli, who is hoping to keep the defender on for a while longer, William Saliba has “come of age as a player” during his loan spell at Marseille this season.
The Frenchman has yet to make one competitive appearance for Arsenal following his arrival from Saint-Ettiene in 2019. He spent time on loan in France at his former club Nice and Marseille.
Saliba has been in impressive form under Sampaoli this season and has been called up to the France national team. And the Marseille boss has now said he “hopes there is a way for us to keep a player like him”.
Read the whole story here.
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-news-mikel-arteta-tottenham-26960875 Arsenal news: Injury crisis reaches new extreme as Mikel Arteta 'lost the plot'
