Mikel Arteta opens up on Arsenal’s injury woes and ‘being left with 14 players’

Mikel Arteta has opened up about Arsenal’s injury woes after ‘being left with just 14 players’.

Arsenal cruised to another emphatic victory on Sunday as they beat Crystal Palace 4-1 at the Emirates. It marked a sixth win on the trot for the Gunners, taking them eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City atop the Premier League table.

But Arteta still had to find a way of winning after losing two defenders, William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu, to injury midweek.

READ MORE: Arsenal fans adamant 'title is ours' as Gunners go eight points clear of Man City

The Spaniard did not hide the fact his side has been bludgeoned by multiple injuries this season to key players, before highlighting the importance of each and every player in his squad.

Arteta said in his post-match interview: "We had to respond and we talked about having players out all season. Gabriel Jesus was out for four months, Emile Smith Rowe out for four and a half months, Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey, Eddie Nketiah out for two and a half months, now William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Do you think Arsenal have been unlucky with injuries this season? Let us know in the comments section.

“We overcome those situations, Rob [Holding] came in and was brilliant today. Everyone has to give another edge to be at the same level, it's not a secret.

"There are moments we have 14, 15 players but everyone is willing to play and put their bodies on the line and I am happy that our players are happy to do that. To be at the top you have to do that at all times.

"We can control our games, we have won six games in a row in the league which is great and that's it."

His comments come after Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag earlier this week took a swipe at the Gunners by claiming they haven’t had to deal with the same number of injuries as his own side.

“Man City home [2-1 victory in January], it was the only time this season [that United had a fully fit squad], in other times, every time, every game is a player suspended, injured, illness,” Ten Hag said.

“I see Arsenal, they almost have all the time a squad that is totally available.”

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