Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shed light on why Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were omitted from his starting lineup for Wednesday night’s Champions League trip to Club Brugge. The Gunners were already stretched thin at the back, with Gabriel and William Saliba unavailable through injury, forcing Arteta to turn to Christian Norgaard as an unexpected central defensive option in Belgium.
Injuries continue to mount for the Gunners
Despite an impressive start to the campaign, Arsenal have endured a worrying surge in injuries over recent weeks — especially in defensive areas. Gabriel, Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera are all sidelined, and to make matters worse, Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice were also ruled out of the squad for the Brugge fixture. The situation left supporters shocked when Arteta unveiled his lineup, particularly as Arsenal were aiming to preserve their 100% Champions League record this term.
Arteta reveals the reason behind the duo’s absence
Speaking to TNT Sports before kickoff, Arteta confirmed that Timber and Calafiori were both carrying knocks from the weekend’s match.
“They both took heavy kicks, and the recovery time just wasn’t enough,” he explained. “For Jurrien, it was simply too soon, and for Ricci, we’ll see if he can manage some minutes tonight.”
With the pair unavailable from the start, Arteta deployed Norgaard alongside Piero Hincapie in central defence, flanked by Ben White and young Myles Lewis-Skelly at full-back. Remarkably, this marked Norgaard’s first outing as a centre-half since his days with Brentford in the Championship back in 2020.
Arteta stands firm on training methods
With Arsenal already having clocked up 28 injuries this season, questions have inevitably been raised over training intensity. However, Arteta insists that the workload on the pitch is not the root of the problem.
“We’re barely training at all right now — there simply isn’t the time,” Arteta said. “The challenge comes when key players are missing. Others then have to take on more minutes, and that increases the risk. That’s the reality.”
He stressed that many of the issues have been long-term, unavoidable setbacks.
“You need to differentiate between injury types,” he continued. “Some are freak, long-term injuries that keep players out for weeks. Others happen because players are overloaded. Once someone picks up one injury, it becomes easier to suffer another. It’s something we monitor constantly.”
Even so, Arteta made it clear he has confidence in the club’s medical department.
“I’m really pleased with the work being done behind the scenes. Sometimes we just need time — and in football, that’s something you rarely get.”
Praise for Norgaard’s attitude and adaptation
Arteta also made a point of commending Norgaard for the way he has integrated since arriving from Brentford. Despite limited minutes in the Premier League and only one prior Champions League start, the Dane has made a positive impression behind the scenes.
“I’m delighted with how he’s settled,” Arteta said. “There is so much he contributes, not just on the pitch but in the overall environment. It’s similar to players like Ben White or Myles Lewis-Skelly — they haven’t played as often as people expected, but their mentality has been excellent.”
Norgaard’s versatility has proven valuable at a time when Arsenal’s defensive depth is being tested like never before.
Arsenal face a demanding festive schedule
Looking ahead, Arteta will be desperate for some of his injured stars to return as the fixtures begin piling up over the festive period. The Gunners are set to face Wolves, Everton, Brighton and Aston Villa in the Premier League, while also preparing for an EFL Cup quarter-final showdown with Crystal Palace before the year concludes.
As the schedule intensifies, every returning player will be vital. For now, Arsenal remain unbeaten in Europe — but their squad depth may be pushed to the limit if the injury trend continues.
