Arsenal are facing another setback in defense as their first-choice central pairing, Gabriel and William Saliba, are unavailable, and Cristhian Mosquera could be added to the growing list of sidelined defenders.
The Gunners’ defensive woes intensified when Mosquera pulled up with an issue in the first half of the clash with Brentford on Wednesday night. He was taken off at halftime and replaced by Jurrien Timber, though the full extent of the problem remains unclear.
Saliba sat out Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea after sustaining a knock in training the day before. Ahead of the Brentford match, manager Mikel Arteta offered little concrete news about Saliba’s status, but suggested recovery could come within a few days.
Arteta acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding several players, saying there would still be more clues after another training session. He described Saliba’s latest setback as potentially short-lived, noting the ankle issue from August was a freak incident that kept him out for a few weeks and that this new problem is similarly unusual, yet he hopes a quick return is possible.
If Saliba is unavailable, Arsenal would continue relying on Mosquera and Hincapie to fill the centre-back roles, a situation that underscores the depth challenges facing the squad.
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