ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta has aimed a thinly-veiled dig at Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman’s recent comments about his side.
Ten Hag, 53, last week claimed that the Gunners have not had to put up with many injuries this season.
Arsenal fans online were left incensed, with many pointing to Gabriel Jesus’ long lay-off.
Arteta, 40, vehemently disagrees with the sentiment too, and laid out what his side have had to contend with after his side’s latest match.
After having to field Rob Holding in the absence of William Saliba, the Gunners managed to beat managerless Crystal Palace 4-1 yesterday.
Following the final whistle, Arteta told Sky Sports: “We had to respond and we talked about having players out all season.
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“Gabriel Jesus was out for four months, Emile Smith Rowe out for four and a half months, Kiernan Tierney, Thomas Partey, Eddie Nketiah out for two and a half months, now William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
“We overcome those situations, Rob came in and was brilliant today.
“Everyone has to give another edge to be at the same level, it’s not a secret.
“There are moments we have 14, 15 players but everyone is willing to play and put their bodies on the line and I am happy that our players are happy to do that.
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“To be at the top you have to do that at all times.”
Arsenal suffered their latest injury setbacks during their Europa League exit at the hands of Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba both limped off during the first half of the Emirates clash.
Speaking ahead of United’s round of 16 second leg clash at Real Betis, Ten Hag had said: “When you see the whole season, we had some setbacks, also some shortages of players.
“But every time we dealt with it and it’s about the players who are available and every time there was a team on the pitch.
“But what is true is I think, till now, we had only one game when we had a squad available totally. One game where I could say, ‘okay now I can pick my team [only] for a tactical approach’ and that was perfect. It was against Man City at home. It was the only time in this season.
“At other times, in every game we had one player suspended, one player is injured, or has illness so we have to deal with it now.
“Of course, you hope it is like Arsenal. Almost all the time, their squad is total available.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
