Ethan Nwaneri limped off in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham, adding to the club’s injury concerns.
Mikel Arteta downplayed worries, but with key players already sidelined, the Gunners face another anxious wait.
Ethan Nwaneri was seen limping as he left the pitch during Arsenal’s humiliating 1-0 home defeat to West Ham, adding yet another concern to a squad already decimated by injuries. Mikel Arteta, however, attempted to downplay fears after the match, stating, “It was just fatigue, I think.”
Any Nwaneri setback now could hardly be worse for Arsenal, a damming indictment of where the squad finds itself. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz are all sidelined, leaving Arteta with limited attacking options as the title race begins to slip away.
With Takehiro Tomiyasu also ruled out for the season following knee surgery, Arsenal’s depth is being tested to breaking point.
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s sending-off only compounded Arsenal’s frustrations, with the 18-year-old receiving a red card after a VAR intervention ruled he had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity to Mohammed Kudus.
With David Raya stranded in the middle of the pitch, it was hard to argue.
MLS had been rested for the game against West Ham with the midweek match against Nottingham Forest in mind, a game he will now miss through suspension.
It was a day where Arsenal dominated possession but lacked any cutting edge, leaving Arteta fuming at his side’s failure to capitalise on 20 shots.
“I’m very disappointed. Very angry as well. Even with all the ball we had and 20 shots, I never felt that we were at the standard that we needed,” Arteta said after the match
Arteta also refused to blame injuries for the result, adding, “I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included 100%, were nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League game today. We were very consistent, yes, but football is about what you do today and today, it was nowhere near.”
The defeat has left Arsenal staring at the possibility of an 11-point gap should Liverpool beat Manchester City today, a scenario that would all but end their title challenge with just 12 games to go.
For Nwaneri, the focus now turns to his fitness ahead of a critical period for Arsenal. His withdrawal may well have been precautionary, but in a season defined by injury setbacks, Arteta will know better than to take any risks.
If Nwaneri’s issue proves more serious, it could be yet another devastating blow in a season where injuries and luck, not just opponents, have been Arsenal’s greatest adversary.