LONDON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has criticized the club’s Premier League schedule after midfielder Declan Rice and center-back Cristhian Mosquera became the latest players to pick up injuries during Wednesday’s 2-0 home win over Brentford.
The North London club are already without first-choice center-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, as well as forward Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard.
Mosquera limped off just minutes before half-time with what Arteta said was either a knee or ankle issue, while England international Rice was substituted in the 83rd minute because of a calf problem.
“Obviously it’s never good news. Declan had to come off. We have to see tomorrow what he’s got,” Arteta told reporters.
“Mosquera is the other one that is out. Obviously we have big Gabi (Gabriel) and Willy (Saliba) out as well. So we have to adapt. It’s been a theme of this season.
“(Rice) could not carry on playing, so we have to wait and see tomorrow what happens ... he can walk but he cannot play.” Arsenal next visit high-flying Aston Villa on Saturday before taking a trip to Belgian side Club Brugge in the Champions League on December 10.
Arsenal, who top the Champions League standings, regained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League thanks to Mikel Merino’s early goal and a late one from substitute Bukayo Saka against Brentford.
“Now we play Wednesday night and we have to play Saturday morning as well,” Arteta said. “So we can play minutes, but if they can please give us just a little bit more time to recover and to make the well-being of these players a little bit easier, that would be great...
“Give us another day, especially the teams that are playing so much in Europe. To everybody in general, I think we can do that because we’re going to benefit from that.
“We’ve never had such a schedule at every level, not only in the Premier League, but every competition internationally as well. So we need to try to do that, please.
“It’s not an argument, I think it’s common sense. I think it’s not at some point this becomes too much, you know, and the players are not machines. But we have to try to do that when we can.”
Arteta hits out at schedule after Rice, Mosquera forced off deepening Arsenal’s injury woes
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Arteta hits out at schedule after Rice, Mosquera forced off deepening Arsenal’s injury woes
- Arsenal are already without first-choice center-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, forward Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard
- “Obviously it’s never good news. Declan had to come off. We have to see tomorrow what he’s got,” Arteta told reporters
Southampton’s stunning fightback leaves Leicester in turmoil
LONDON: Southampton made an incredible late comeback from three goals down to beat crisis club Leicester 4-3 in the Championship on Tuesday.
Leicester interim manager Andy King looked set for his first victory since taking charge after first-half goals from Divine Mukasa, Patson Daka and Abdul Fatawu at the King Power Stadium.
But Southampton substitute Ross Stewart reduced the deficit in the 61st minute to spark the astonishing revival.
Leicester’s brittle confidence was exposed as Jack Stephens netted in the 82nd minute and Ryan Manning equalized five minutes later.
Shea Charles struck six minutes into stoppage time to snatch the points for Southampton in dramatic fashion, leaving King’s shell-shocked side without a win in six games.
Seven years after thrashing Southampton 9-0 at St. Mary’s, Leicester hit a devastating low of their own against the Saints.
Still searching for a permanent manager following Marti Cifuentes’ sacking, Leicester are outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
The Foxes were recently deducted six points by the Football League for breaches of financial regulations.
Birmingham missed the chance to move into the play-off places after they were held to a 0-0 draw by West Bromwich Albion at St. Andrew’s.
New West Brom boss Eric Ramsay remains winless but claimed a second successive draw to help his side move two points above the relegation zone.
Mohamed Toure hit a hat-trick as Norwich made it five wins from their last six matches with a 3-0 victory at second-bottom Oxford.
