The visit of Brentford wasn’t the comfortable Premier League win that Mikel Arteta had hoped for ahead of his side’s visit to face Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final second leg next week
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are worried about Jorginho ahead of the clash with Real Madrid this week after he was forced off in the 1-1 draw with Brentford. The veteran Italy International was substituted in the second half and “could not breathe” – leaving Arteta to worry that his problem is “something significant”.
Jorginho had been one of five changes from the 3-0 drubbing of the European champions in midweek as Arteta rotated his side. That included dropping Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber all to the bench.
Those five all came on in the second period after Thomas Partey – deputising at right-back – had struck to put the Gunners in front shortly after half time. But Yoann Wissa equalised for Thomas Frank’s stubborn side who exited the Emirates with a share of the spoils.
“It is disappointing because we lost two points,” admitted Arteta. “From what we did in the game, how we dominated and what we conceded, I think we did enough to win. Against Brentford if you don’t defend the first or second actions well on set pieces then they are going to punish you big time. We had an open goal with Bukayo after and we did not make it 2-0 and then with 1-0 the game is always open.”
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Asked about losing Jorginho, Arteta said: “He said he could not breathe properly so it might be to do with one of the ribs.
“It is strange because Jorgi normally carries on so that means it is something significant I think.”
It is a second injury blow for the Gunners ahead of their quarter-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Ben White also struggling. He wasn’t in the squad on Saturday for the visit of the Bees and has only been used sparingly since returning from knee surgery.
Thomas Frank was delighted by his side, and for goalscorer Wissa. He said:”It is such a privilege How many No.9s have scored 15 Premier League goals this year for a team that, with all due respect, is not amongst best in the league? That is a big credit to Wissa but also the chances we create.
“It is a very good point against a very good Arsenal team that beat Real Madrid four days ago.
“Fighting back to get to 1-1 shows the character in our team. I would have loved us to create more but they also defended very well.”
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