Arsenal’s hopes of securing their first Premier League title in nearly two decades have been dealt yet another blow as Riccardo Calafiori was forced off with a knee injury during the Gunners’ 1-0 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night. The Italian defender’s setback comes at the worst possible time for Mikel Arteta’s side, who are already grappling with a growing list of absentees ahead of their crucial clash with title rivals Liverpool on Sunday.
Calafiori, who has been a revelation since joining Arsenal from Roma in the summer, received treatment on the pitch before being replaced by academy prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly in the second half. The extent of the 21-year-old’s injury remains unclear, but his potential absence has left Arsenal fans fearing the worst as they prepare for a season-defining fixture against Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Reds.
Speaking to the press after the match, a visibly concerned Arteta admitted, “Riccardo Calafiori coming off is a bit of a worry. We will see.” The Spaniard’s apprehension is understandable, given the mounting injury crisis that has engulfed his squad in recent weeks.
Arsenal, who currently sit four points adrift of Liverpool in the Premier League table, are already without the services of key players Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, and Martin Odegaard, all of whom are sidelined with various ailments. To compound their misery, the Gunners will also be without the influential William Saliba for the Liverpool clash, after the French defender was sent off in their previous league outing against Bournemouth.
The absence of Saliba, coupled with the potential loss of Calafiori, has left Arsenal’s backline looking increasingly threadbare as they prepare to face one of Europe’s most potent attacking forces. Liverpool, who have been in scintillating form this season, boast an array of attacking talent that includes the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz, all of whom will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a depleted Arsenal defense.
For Arteta, the injury crisis could not have come at a worse time. The former Manchester City assistant has worked wonders since taking the reins at the Emirates, transforming a once-struggling side into genuine title contenders. However, with his squad now ravaged by injuries and suspensions, the Spaniard faces the unenviable task of trying to keep his team’s title hopes alive against a Liverpool side that looks increasingly unstoppable.
The Gunners’ victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, secured courtesy of a second-half strike from the ever-reliable Gabriel Jesus, will have provided a much-needed boost to morale ahead of the Liverpool showdown. However, the joy of progression in Europe will be tempered by the growing sense of unease surrounding the club’s mounting injury list.
As Arsenal fans anxiously await news on Calafiori’s condition, they will be all too aware that their side’s title aspirations now hang by the thinnest of threads. With a squad stretched to its limits and a daunting fixture list on the horizon, Arteta and his players will need to summon every ounce of resilience and determination if they are to keep their dreams of Premier League glory alive.
The coming days will be crucial for Arsenal, both on and off the pitch. While Arteta and his medical team work tirelessly to assess the extent of Calafiori’s injury and plot a course for his recovery, the players will be steeling themselves for the battle ahead, knowing that nothing less than a victory against Liverpool will suffice if they are to keep their title hopes burning bright.
