Arsenal can 'deal with it' says Mikel Arteta as absentees mount at Arsenal

Aaron Ramsey has had a set-back in his recovery from injury while Mathieu Flamini is banned for the next four games

Simon Peach
Wednesday 29 January 2014 14:52 GMT
Comments
Mikel Arteta celebrates Arsenal's win over Liverpool on Saturday
Mikel Arteta celebrates Arsenal's win over Liverpool on Saturday

Arsenal's foreboding February fixture list has been made all the more tougher by their depleted midfield options, although Mikel Arteta remains confident of staying on the right track.

The north Londoners could be usurped at the top of the Barclays Premier League on Wednesday evening after being held to a 2-2 draw at Southampton.

As if the inability to keep up the pressure on Manchester City and Chelsea was not frustrating enough, Arsene Wenger's midfield options narrowed at St Mary's after Mathieu Flamini incurred a four-match ban for a straight red card.

The Frenchman is joined on the sidelines by Aaron Ramsey, who Wenger revealed suffered a setback in his recovery from injury on Monday, and potentially Jack Wilshere, depending on his recovery from an ankle problem.

It is hardly the ideal scenario for the title challengers but Arteta, himself only just back from a calf injury, has vowed that the team will fight through.

"That happens and we have to deal with it," the Spaniard said.

"The schedule is really busy now - we have some really tough games coming up in the next two weeks and we have to deal with it and do our best.

"We had many options but that is one problem that we have had in the last few weeks: we have had a lot of injuries, losing Theo Walcott for a long time, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is just coming back, too many.

"Tomas Rosicky as well was out for a couple of weeks with his nose so we are a bit short at the moment but hopefully we can get people back.

"We can't do anything [about other teams] - it doesn't depend on us. There is a long way to go.

"Everyone is going to drop points and some will do so here at Southampton because it is a very tough place to come. Hopefully we will be fine."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in