Mikel Merino says Arsenal can’t afford to make use of accidents as a purpose to permit their type to dip.
The Gunners have been confronted with a defensive disaster within the build-up to their Premier League title conflict with Liverpool on Sunday, with Riccardo Calafiori lacking out with a knee drawback to enhance William Saliba’s suspension – the Frenchman was again for the Carabao Cup win over Preston North Finish.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber each needed to be introduced off with knocks, leaving Arsenal to complete the 2-2 draw with a backline of Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The aforementioned pair are stated to have prevented any main accidents, however the membership have now dropped 5 factors behind Manchester Metropolis after a loss and a draw of their final two video games.
Talking earlier than the Preston conflict, Merino stated: “The message is easy – this group just isn’t going to lose their focus, it is by no means going to surrender it doesn’t matter what the scenario or what time of the yr it’s.
“The main target is to go 100% and be taught from each sport. We focus solely on ourselves and what we are able to do to win each single sport. We do not look outdoors the group – despite this outcome, we do not look too far forward, we give attention to the current. That is our mentality and it is what’s going to carry us success sooner or later.
“Accidents are a part of the sport they usually can’t be an excuse for outcomes. Accidents have execs and cons – one of many execs is that we’re seeing younger gamers make their debuts and be concerned.
“As a membership, you wish to carry younger gamers via from the academy, give them alternatives and you’ll see this can be a membership the place everybody is ready to do a very good job though we do not have vital gamers like Martin [Odegaard] out there.
“Issues occur in soccer – typically you get kicked, typically you get a knock, however I could not miss the sport [against Liverpool]. I stood up and saved enjoying, that is it.”
Supervisor Mikel Arteta additionally health issues elsewhere in his squad, with Martin Odegaard within the late phases of his rehabilitation from an ankle blow whereas Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are sidelined with knee and ankle complaints respectively.
