'It is what it is' — Arteta bemoans Arsenal injury crisis as Gabriel Magalhaes & Jurrien Timber join list

bemoaned Arsenal’s growing injury list as his team face a defensive crisis after and Jurrien Timber limped off in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on October 27.

The Gunners are facing an anxious wait to discover the extent of the issues of the duo. Arteta’s team finished the high-octane game with a makeshift back-four of Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Magalhaes appeared to suffer a knee injury while Timber complained of an issue near his thigh. «I don’t know (what impact the injuries had on the game). It’s what it is. We had five injuries in the back line. We have to adapt to it and we will continue to adapt. It’s the situation that we have.»

Captain has not featured for the Gunners since the September international break. The talismanic midfielder has been a big loss for title-chasing Arsenal whose creativity has nosedived since the Norwegian was sidelined.

will also miss a couple of matches after suffering a nasty-looking knee injury in the mid-wek Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk. Utility defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is on the treatment table as well. 

 «I don’t know but he could not run. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know if it’s the knee joint or the ankle,» Arteta said of Gabriel’s situation.  Regarding the Dutchman’s fitness, Arteta answered: «I don’t know the extent of the injury if there is one.» 

The pair face a race against time to be fit for the Wednesday Carabao Cup tie against Preston North End and the weekend mouth-watering encounter with at St James Park.