Arsenal returned to the summit of the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, but the win was significantly overshadowed by a fresh wave of injury concerns within Mikel Arteta's defensive ranks.
Late Withdrawal and Fresh Knock Hit Defence
The problems began just before kick-off at the Emirates Stadium, where Riccardo Calafiori was forced to withdraw from the starting line-up after picking up an issue during the warm-up. The Italian defender, who had been named in the initial XI, was replaced by youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.
This unexpected setback compounds an existing absence, as Jurrien Timber also missed the match entirely. The Dutch international, who attended the game, was left out of the squad after sustaining a knock during the midweek Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out triumph against Crystal Palace, despite completing that match and scoring his spot-kick.
Mixed News on Returning Stars
There was some positive fitness news, however. Central defender Gabriel Magalhães made his return from an abductor injury that had sidelined him since early November. The Brazilian came off the bench in the 70th minute against Brighton and emerged unscathed.
Forward Kai Havertz is edging closer to a comeback from a knee injury suffered on the opening day. He has resumed first-team training, but Arteta confirmed his return is "a matter of days, not weeks," suggesting a potential appearance against Aston Villa.
Lengthy List of Ongoing Absences
The squad's injury issues extend beyond Saturday's match. The club confirmed that centre-back Cristhian Mosquera will be out for "weeks" with an ankle injury worse than first feared after he was substituted against Brentford.
Ben White is recovering from a hamstring problem picked up against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Initial fears of a long lay-off have eased, and Arteta hopes to have him back "in the next few games."
Furthermore, 15-year-old prospect Max Dowman faces a spell on the sidelines until mid-February with an ankle ligament injury sustained in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
These defensive disruptions arrive at a critical juncture, with Arsenal preparing to host Unai Emery's high-flying Aston Villa next week in a match that could have significant implications for the Premier League title race. Arteta will be desperately hoping for positive updates on both Calafiori and Timber in the coming days.
