Arsenal News
Arteta confirms extended absences for Saliba, Gabriel and Mosquera
Arteta: Saliba, Gabriel and Mosquera are sidelined for a period, leaving Arsenal short at centre-back
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given a clear assessment of a developing defensive crisis, confirming William Saliba, Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera will be unavailable for an extended period.
Saliba and Gabriel were absent for the recent clash, joined on the sidelines by Mosquera, who suffered an ankle injury in the Gunners’ 2–0 win over Brentford on Wednesday evening. Piero Hincapié and Jurriën Timber were selected in defence, flanked by Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White. That makeshift backline “could not withstand Unai Emery’s in-form Villans, though, and were left stunned when the final whistle blew in Birmingham.”
Arteta offered no encouraging medical updates after the match. “It is what it is. I think we have to cope with that [their absence]. We’re going to have to cope with that for a period of time as well.” Saliba has missed Arsenal’s last three matches after picking up a knock in training ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. Gabriel has not featured since sustaining a thigh injury while representing Brazil during the November international window.
On Mosquera, Arteta was equally direct. “He’s going to be out for weeks. Unfortunately, it’s much more than what we expected, with the way he was feeling,” he said. Previous reports stated Mosquera would be out for at least six weeks, a timeline that leaves Arsenal extremely shorthanded in defence ahead of a busy holiday period.
Arteta acknowledged the wider implications for the title race and the squad. “We know that and the team has to be able to adapt that,” Arteta said of Arsenal’s injury woes. “Don’t look for excuses. Obviously, we know what [Saliba and Gabriel] bring, especially in games like this.”
He added there is hope Saliba could return in time for the trip to Belgium to face Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, but no definitive timeline was offered.
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FA Reject Arsenal’s Challenge Over Max Dowman Dismissal
Arsenal’s appeal over Max Dowman’s red card has failed, leaving the teenager suspended for three domestic matches.
Arsenal have failed in their bid to overturn the red card shown to Max Dowman in the midweek defeat to Fleetwood Town, with the Football Association confirming the appeal has been dismissed.
Dowman was dismissed for violent conduct in the 85th minute after kicking out at Harrison Neal. The 16-year-old reacted after a forceful challenge from the Fleetwood midfielder went unpunished by referee Michael Salisbury.
The FA later issued a statement confirming the outcome of Arsenal’s case. It read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has dismissed claims of both wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment for Max Dowman.”
The decision leaves Dowman facing a three-match suspension in domestic competition. That ban begins with Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Liverpool, a significant test for the reigning champions.
He will be available for the Champions League trip to Slavia Prague, as domestic suspensions do not apply in UEFA competitions. But Dowman will then sit out league matches at home to Hull City and away to Newcastle United, either side of the November international break.
His next domestic appearance is scheduled to come against Manchester City on Nov. 29, a meeting that is shaping up as a major one in the title race.
Ordinarily, the teenager’s absence would not trouble Mikel Arteta too heavily, with Dowman still largely a bit-part player in the Premier League and Champions League. Yet the timing is awkward for Arsenal, who are already managing a depleted squad.
Arteta is also without Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s first-choice right winger, after the England international suffered a thigh injury in the recent Champions League match with Bayern Munich. His return date remains unclear, although he is expected to miss around two months of action.
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Arsenal face a fresh attacking problem after Saka setback
Saka’s injury has left Arsenal short on the wing and exposed a summer decision that may backfire.
Arsenal have moved beyond the defensive injury issues that threatened their early-season rhythm, but Mikel Arteta is now dealing with a different concern at the sharp end of the pitch.
The latest blow centres on Bukayo Saka, who has been ruled out after making an injury-free start to 2026/27 following two straight seasons disrupted by lay-offs. His night against Bayern Munich ended after only 10 minutes at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
“It doesn’t look good at all, but we have to wait and see,” Arteta told reporters afterwards. “It’s his quad. It was early in the game, and the level of intensity his game requires is something incredible. The quality, strength and attention you need has to be at the highest level, and those things happen unfortunately.” In an earlier response to TNT Sports, the Gunners manager said it is “never a good sign” when a player is withdrawn because of a “a really sharp pain.”
Saka has long had problems in the thigh and hamstring area, from minor issues to longer spells out. At one point in 2024/25, he missed 99 consecutive days while also being on track to break the Premier League’s single-season assist record.
Arsenal still need more information before they can judge how long he will be absent, but the early signs point away from a quick recovery.
That situation may expose the club’s summer decisions. Arsenal did not add another wide forward, and their willingness to keep moving Gabriel Martinelli on without a replacement could now become a major issue.
The club knew upgrades were needed after winning the Premier League and missing out in the Champions League final. Leandro Trossard, dependable but limited, was replaced by Christos Tzolis, yet that was only part of the wider plan. Interest in Morgan Rogers ended when he joined Chelsea, Bradley Barcola chose Liverpool, and Vinícius Júnior signed a new contract with Real Madrid.
Arteta was clearly not satisfied with Martinelli, who initially resisted leaving. Arsenal wanted to cash in, but without a proven upgrade, the decision may have left them short in a position where options are already limited.
Saka’s replacement in Munich was Eberechi Eze. The 28-year-old, signed for big money ahead of last season, is naturally a No. 10 rather than a winger, but has had to cover on the left after Martinelli’s exit. He scored against Bayern, making it two Champions League games in a row with a goal, yet his overall output remains underwhelming.
Noni Madueke started against Bayern because Tzolis, who is loosely expected back in November, is still unavailable. The England international has also failed to make a strong case, having been used since the international break because there are few better alternatives.
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Arsenal’s Redundancy Plan Raises Fresh Questions Over Football Finance
Arsenal’s planned staff cuts have brought the club’s financial decisions, spending and stated values into sharper focus.
Arsenal are understood to be preparing for at least 60 redundancies among off-field staff, according to multiple reports, coming only weeks after handing Mikel Arteta the Premier League’s biggest manager salary.
The Telegraph reported that the cuts are imminent, although the specific roles affected have not been disclosed. The timing has drawn criticism, particularly with Arteta’s new contract fresh in the background and Declan Rice also nearing a new deal that could see his pay rise to more than £350,000 a week.
That kind of spending stands in stark contrast to the people working behind the scenes. Arsenal’s revenue rose by £319 million between 2022 and 2025, yet the club’s latest decisions have prompted scrutiny over what those figures mean in practice and who ultimately bears the cost.
The club’s stated values include “championing each other,” “acting for a winning culture” and “doing the right thing (even when no one is looking).” Against that backdrop, the removal of 60 members of staff has been met with obvious unease, whatever explanation the club may later offer.
At the same time, Arsenal remain a business as well as a football club, and the accounts underline that reality. Despite strong feelings on the pitch, the club has made a loss for seven straight years, including in 2024–25, when record revenues of £691 million were reported.
Costs have also continued to climb. Operating expenses increased from £148 million to £201 million across the 2024–25 season, and the next set of accounts may show another rise when they are eventually published. For now, the debate around Arsenal is less about results and more about the balance between ambition, finance and responsibility.
