Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed worries following an injury sustained by Riccardo Calafiori during their 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday, Afrosport reports.
Calafiori was replaced by teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 70th minute at the Emirates Stadium after Italian defender sustained a right knee injury.
“With Riccy [Riccardo Calafiori] he had to come off because he felt something,” the Spaniard stated after the game. “I don’t know the extent of it but it’s not good news; it’s a bit of a worry.”
Arteta also cleared the air on the situation surrounding England international Ben White, who was substituted at halftime against Bournemouth.
“It was my decision to take him out. He had a yellow card, we have played enough with 10 men in recent periods,” Arteta said. “They had a lot of density, a lot of attacking players on that side and we didn’t want to take any chances.”
Calafiori’s injury added to Arteta’s concerns, as the Arsenal manager is already without captain Martin Odegaard, forward Bukayo Saka, full back Kieran Tierney and Dutch defender Jurrien Timber.
The Gunners are set to face Liverpool in a potential title decider on Sunday, October 27, and will also be without French defender, William Saliba, who was sent off in their 2-0 loss to Bournemouth last weekend.
