Arsenal go into the weekend’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace on the back of two consecutive wins and their hopes of continuing the run has been dealt a blow due to a key player missing out because of injury.
Hector Bellerin will not make it for the match against Palace as he is still recovering from an injury. This was confirmed by manager Mikel Arteta who revealed that the Spaniard isn’t ready for match action yet.
According to Arsenal’s official website, he said:
“Hector is a little bit better. He trained partially with the team today, but he’s still not there.”
The Gunners are a little light in the defensive department, especially in the full-back areas. With players such as Bellerin and Kieran Tierney missing out through various injuries, Arteta has had to improvise to find a solution.
This saw center back Sokratis play as a right-back during the 3rd round FA Cup match against Leeds United. Having a player like Bellerin out might mean another start for Englishman Ainsley Maitland-Niles who has done well in that position when called upon.
Another factor that Arsenal should keep in mind is that they must not rush players into action. Only once they are convinced that a player is fully fit should they be thinking of bringing them back. Otherwise there is a chance that the injury might get aggravated and they will end up being on the sidelines for a longer time.
The North London club have a great opportunity to build some momentum as they take on their rivals. Arteta will be expecting his side to play the way they did in the last two games. And if they are able to show the same kind of intensity, there is every chance that they walk out of Selhurst Park as the winners.
Bellerin might be fit in time for the home game against Sheffield United and it will be interesting to see how Arteta makes use of him. Things are starting to look a little bright for the club and fans will be hoping that this continues. A win against Palace will boost their chances of finishing in the top four and getting back into the Champions League.
