{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreictodqhu52tbsaflebnxk6s4yx5rk5hwws222coper7q2l3ukmqva",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mewk6aktrx52"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreih3zogemt52i55pof5d7opnjdgjrkbn4ncfijkyta3jpcdzovpehu"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 50890
  },
  "path": "/sport/football/mikel-arteta-arsenal-injury-crisis-fa-cup",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-15T21:03:36.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Arsenal star picks up injury in warm-up as side cruise past Wigan to keep quadruple hopes alive",
    "Nottingham Forest make historic announcement as new manager appointed after Sean Dyche axe",
    "Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney left furious after three huge errors in FA Cup match",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nMikel Arteta has conceded that Arsenal's mounting injury situation could undermine his side's ambitions across multiple competitions this campaign.\n\nArsenal swept into the FA Cup fifth round with an emphatic 4-0 demolition of League One side Wigan at the Emirates on Sunday.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nYet the convincing scoreline only masked growing concerns over their mounting casualty list.\n\nThe Gunners, who currently sit four points clear atop the Premier League, remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHowever, fresh setbacks to key personnel have left their manager acknowledging the squad's vulnerability at a critical juncture of the season.\n\nThe injury woes began before kick-off when Riccardo Calafiori picked up a problem during the warm-up, ruling him out of the starting lineup entirely.\n\nBen White then added to Arteta's headaches after being withdrawn during the second half.\n\nCaptain Martin Odegaard was absent from the matchday squad altogether, having sustained a knock during Thursday's 1-1 draw with Brentford.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe situation in midfield looks particularly bleak.\n\nKai Havertz faces at least the rest of February on the sidelines, while Mikel Merino's campaign appears over following foot surgery.\n\nThe problems have affected different areas of the pitch in succession throughout the season.\n\nWhen asked whether he was concerned about his depleted options, Arteta was unequivocal: \"Yes. Before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders and now it is the midfielders (getting injured).\"\n\n### LATEST SPORT NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Arsenal star picks up injury in warm-up as side cruise past Wigan to keep quadruple hopes alive\n  * Nottingham Forest make historic announcement as new manager appointed after Sean Dyche axe\n  * Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney left furious after three huge errors in FA Cup match\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Spaniard stressed the importance of recovering bodies swiftly.\n\nHe said: \"We are coping with that. But we need some players back and fit, not only for numbers but different options in relation to the opponents we have, so the quicker they are back the better.\"\n\nArsenal face a demanding week ahead, travelling to Molineux to meet Wolves on Wednesday before the north London derby against Tottenham the following weekend.\n\nDespite the injury concerns, there were encouraging signs from Eberechi Eze, the £68million summer signing from Crystal Palace who has faced scrutiny over his performances since arriving.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe attacking midfielder set up both of Arsenal's opening goals against Wigan.\n\nHe was previously substituted at half-time during the Brentford stalemate in what was his first league start for two months.\n\nArteta expressed his satisfaction with the display: \"Those players need those moments, and especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments.\n\n\"I am very happy with that. For the mood, for the confidence, it is really a good thing.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**\n**\n\n**\n**\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Mikel Arteta makes stark admission when questioned over Arsenal's mounting injury crisis following FA Cup win"
}