Mikel Arteta has named how he believes pressure on players can be eased amid fresh injury crisis for Arsenal ahead of Premier League trip to Everton on Saturday lunchtime
Mikel Arteta returns to Goodison Park for the final time on Saturday with many fond memories of almost seven years wearing an Everton shirt.
But any chance to feel nostalgic has been overwritten by the Arsenal manager battling another injury headache after confirming centre back Gabriel will miss the rest of the season because of a hamstring injury.
Riccardo Calafiori is also ruled out while Jurrien Timber and Ben White face late fitness tests.
Real Madrid meanwhile can breathe a sigh of relief after Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Ceballos were merely fined and not suspended for misconduct ahead of next week’s Champions League showdown.
Here are the big stories from in and around Arsenal ahead of a huge week
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta explains how to fix Arsenal injury nightmare – ‘It’s the only solution’READ MORE: Mikel Arteta confirms worst Gabriel fears as Arsenal without up to 4 defenders vs Everton
Stand up and be counted
Mikel Arteta is calling on other Arsenal players to stand up and be counted after confirming centre-back Gabriel Maghalaes will be “out for a while” after injuring a hamstring against Fulham. The Gunners visit Everton on Saturday lunchtime before the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
And with Riccardo Calafiori also on the sidelines and Arsenal waiting to see if Jurrien Timber and Ben White are good to return, Arteta admitted: “It’s tough. The team has reacted like it has all season, which I am proud of.
“We know he’ll be out for a while. We must find different solutions. We’ve come so far. Now we have the most important, beautiful part of the season. Other players will have opportunities to play. The team has to find other ways. We have the resources.”
‘The only solution’
Mikel Arteta wants an increase in squad sizes to combat football’s growing injury crisis, claiming: “It’s the only solution.” Gunners boss Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a hamstring injury.
And Arsenal could be without four defenders for Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Everton, with Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori already ruled out of the midweek Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Gabriel has become the third Arsenal player to require surgery on a hamstring this season. And while Arteta is “proud” of how his squad has faced adversity, he believes change is required to protect players facing an increasingly taxing schedule.
“Logically, if we demand the players to play more games, in more competitions, more travel, with more intensity, the only solution is to have more players,” he said.
Real let off
Arsenal’s hopes of facing a weakened Real Madrid next week have ended despite three of the Spanish giants’ stars being charged by UEFA for misconduct.
Antonio Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe have gotten away with suspended one-match bans on top of paltry fines, while former Arsenal loanee Dani Ceballos was also fined after the trio ”violated the basic rules of decent conduct.”
And Vinicius Jr has escaped any punishment following ugly scenes at the end of their round of 16 win against neighbours Atletico.
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