While Arsenal and Liverpool had contrasting fortunes in the Premier League this weekend, both heavyweights had something in common, a potentially disastrous injury to a key talent.
The Gunners took the lead against West Bromwich Albion, but fell behind after a James Morrison effort and a Mikel Arteta own goal. Santi Cazorla’s penalty slip up and Joel Campbell’s horror miss made for a bad day at the office for Arsene Wenger’s side, as the game ended 2-1 to the Baggies.
Defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin was replaced during the opening stages of the match with a knee injury, and according to Sky Sports, both the Frenchman and his replacement, Arteta, look set to be added to Arsenal’s burgeoning injury list.
“We have two more injuries. One is a muscle problem for Arteta, and the other one is a knee problem for Coquelin,” Wenger said after the match, as per Sky Sports.
“I don’t know how serious that is but we will know certainly tomorrow, for Coquelin. Arteta is a calf.”
The loss of two important players comes as a major blow to an Arsenal side already without the likes of Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners can maintain their title aspirations and fight to remain in the Champions League beyond the group stage, with their situation already perilous ahead of the visit of Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.
Liverpool secured the result of the weekend when they defeated high-flying Manchester City 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium. It was the second major victory achieved under Jurgen Klopp—following the triumph away at Chelsea—and was a reaffirmation of the Reds’ Champions League qualities.
However, it also came at a cost.
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Philippe Coutinho—one of the stars against City—was replaced in the 68th minute with a suspected muscle problem and, as confirmed by Klopp on the official club website, the manager faces an anxious wait to see the severity of the injury.
“I hope [he] is well enough,” the German coach began. “He showed not a real [injury], it was a little bit of cramp, he felt something.
“I hope that’s all, he will be very important for us, everybody can see he’s in really good shape in this moment. I hope he can react well enough.”