Mikel Arteta explains how to fix Arsenal injury nightmare – ‘It’s the only solution’

Mikel Arteta wants Premier League clubs to be allowed to select bigger squads to combat increased demands after fresh injury blow leaves Arsenal without up to four defenders against Everton

Mikel Arteta wants an increase in squad sizes to combat football’s growing injury crisis, claiming: “It’s the only solution.” Gunners boss Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a hamstring injury.

And Arsenal could be without four defenders for Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Everton, with Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori already ruled out of the midweek Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

Gabriel has become the third Arsenal player to require surgery on a hamstring this season. And while Arteta is “proud” of how his squad has faced adversity, he believes change is required to protect players facing an increasingly taxing schedule.

“Logically, if we demand the players to play more games, in more competitions, more travel, with more intensity, the only solution is to have more players,” he said.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta confirms worst Gabriel fears as Arsenal without up to 4 defenders vs EvertonREAD MORE: Carlo Ancelotti denies tax fraud as Real Madrid boss says ‘I’ve confidence in justice’

“I don’t see any other solution. The demands, the intensity, the quality, the pressure, everything is increasing. But I think we have to be very conscious that there are certain limits as well to what the players can do.”

Arteta, 43, has learnt from personal experience how playing at the top can affect players long after retirement. “My knee, my hip, my ankles, you know,” he said. “They are the consequences of playing at the highest level in the sport. But you have many other things in your life as well.”

And the demands now far outweigh what he experienced. Across December and January Arsenal played 16 times compared to 11 last season.

The introduction of Champions League fixtures in January plus a two-legged EFL Cup semi-final has left them feeling like victims of their own success. At the beginning of that spell Gabriel was battling a minor hamstring tear but the Brazilian was desperate to play with Arteta saying such decisions can often be no-win scenarios for managers.

“During the West Ham game (on November 30), he felt something in his hamstring. We played three days later, six days later and nine days later. Three days later, he said he was ready to play with a grade one tear. A massive fight not to play him. Day six, he said, ‘This one definitely I have to play’ but there is still a risk. We decided after a big fight, he don’t play.

“Day nine, another game. The docs say there is a slight risk. He can miss five, six, seven weeks if he has an injury after that. We decided not to play him. On day 12, he plays.

“But I was very tempted on day six to play him. If I would have played him on day six and he had the injury that he sustained against Fulham and he misses four weeks, four months, I would be hammered.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.