Arsenal secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the final round of the EPL, but the win was costly. Following the match, it was reported that two key players - William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli - were injured. This was a significant loss for the Gunners ahead of the upcoming FA Cup matches.
In a post-match interview with journalists, Mikel Arteta confirmed that neither player would be able to participate in the cup match against Brighton.
"Saliba will not be able to participate in this game, her condition is currently under medical examination. "Martinelli has a similar problem, we will conduct further analysis," Arteta said.
At the same time, the coach shared some good news with the fans: Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Ricardo Calafiori are continuing to train in good condition and could return to the field soon.
Arsenal have started the current season in high spirits. Having won seven of their first nine Premier League matches, the team currently holds the top spot in the league table. However, the increasing number of injuries began to seriously affect Arteta's plans.
Arteta didn't hide the fact that, taking into account the team's workload and the number of matches, he plans to let some leaders rest before the international break in November. According to him, the main goal of the team is to keep the squad healthy and ensure a stable performance in all competitions.
The coach said:
"Sometimes injuries force you to make decisions. We have enough talented youth. We need to give them a chance and not lose the rhythm of the team."
The FA Cup match against Brighton will be an important challenge for Arsenal, testing not only the result but also the depth of the team. If leaders like Saliba and Martinelli are sidelined for a long time, Arteta's tactical capabilities could be further limited.
Nevertheless, the Emirates' morale is high - the team's fans are confident that under Arteta's leadership, they will overcome this challenge.
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