'I'm Just Praying': Arteta on Arsenal's Fight to Close the Gap with Liverpool Amid Injury Woes

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he’s relying on “prayers” to help his team close the nine-point gap between them and Liverpool, who lead the Premier League. Arsenal’s recent 1-1 draw with Chelsea means they haven’t won in their last four league games, making it even harder to keep up in the title race.

In the game against Chelsea, Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead, but Pedro Neto quickly scored to equalize. This draw leaves Arsenal still searching for a victory, and the team’s season has been made harder by injuries to key players.

Arsenal’s season has been plagued by injuries. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both had to leave the field due to injury in the Chelsea game, adding to the team’s challenges. Meanwhile, captain Martin Ødegaard finally returned to the starting lineup after six weeks out with an ankle injury, offering some relief.

Commenting on the nine-point gap, Arteta expressed his frustration: “We can’t do much about that right now. What I’m praying for is that after the international break, we have a healthy squad ready to go. It’s been a tough eight weeks with one injury after another, not just affecting those who are out but also limiting the ones who can only play for a short time.”

Despite these setbacks, Arteta praised his players’ determination. “We’re all hungry to succeed and fight for this,” he said. “When things get tough, that’s when I want to see who’s really with us. It’s easy when times are good, but when things get challenging, that’s when we need to stand strong.”

As both Arsenal and Chelsea head into the international break, this period could be a chance for players to recover. Arsenal fans hope their team returns stronger and healthier, while Chelsea will be looking to solve some internal challenges and deal with injuries to stay competitive in the league.