Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has responded to Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag's injury assessment dig.
Earlier this week, the Dutchman went on a bizarre rant, claiming that the Gunners had been lucky this season with injuries and suspensions. “When you see all season we have had some setbacks, every time we've dealt with it,” Ten Hag told the media when discussing the Red Devils' injury issues.
“It's about the players who are available and every time there's a team on the pitch who deals with it. In just one game we had the squad available totally and I was able to pick my team, from a tactical approach, perfectly - that was against Manchester City at home this season. Every other time it's been one player suspended, injured, or unavailable through illness.
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“We have to deal with it well but Arsenal, all the time their squad is totally available." The Gunners had missed marquee summer signing Gabriel Jesus for nearly four months, whilst last season's top scorer Emile Smith Rowe has been plagued by fitness issues all year.
During Thursday night's Europa League clash against Sporting CP, Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu were both withdrawn following respective injuries, leading to Arteta taking a firm stance on his side's so-called luck this season. "We've been carrying injuries throughout the season," the Spaniard said after the match.
"We had Emile [Smith Rowe] out for four months, [Gabriel] Jesus out for four months, Alex [Zinchenko] for two-and-a-half months, Thomas [Partey] for a month and a half, Eddie [Nketiah] for a month and a half. We had quite a lot of injuries already, but we dealt with that."
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