Arsenal dealt brand new major injury worry as nightmare Mikel Arteta scenario emerges
Arsenal have been handed a new injury scare following the chaotic 2-2 draw against Manchester City. Erling Haaland, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes and John Stones were all on target in the thrilling stalemate with the points shared for a second consecutive season at Etihad Stadium.
Considering the circumstances, with Martin Odegaard missing and Arsenal having to play against the reigning champions a man down, taking a point back to north London is a tremendous result. To ensure they did not leave empty-handed, Mikel Arteta had to make some big calls with one of those involving Ben White.
For the first time nearly nine months, White was named on the bench for a Premier League clash with the Gunners boss revealing exactly why he was in the starting XI. “Yeah, we didn’t want to [play him that long], but we had to,” he said. “I spoke to him yesterday and I wanted to protect him.
“He’s not going to ever tell you that he’s not fit. He will run through a brick wall for you. The intention was not to use him today. But I’m very grateful because he performed extremely well.” With Arteta admitting White is carrying an injury, he could soon join the likes of Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the treatment table.
With several key names already absent, Arteta could see one of his best players from the opening few weeks of the season so far miss the next few games. Three days on from saving Arsenal in the Champions League clash against Atalanta, Raya made numerous saves to keep his side in the game for as long as possible and that looks to have taken its toll.
Following the game, as Raya headed towards the Arsenal team bus and through the mixed zone, he could be clearly seen hobbling while also having some strapping on his right knee. The Spain international went down during the game but that looked to be in order to help the clock tick by, however that may not be the case.
Raya featuring in the Carabao Cup clash against Bolton was always unlikely with Neto expected to make his debut after joining on a season-long loan from Bournemouth. Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly could also feature with Raheem Sterling hoping for his first start.
Despite that, Arteta will be hoping his potential issue is not serious and that Raya can feature this weekend against Leicester and if not then just a few days later when the Gunners welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Emirates Stadium in the Champions League.
