Mikel Arteta admitted that Granit Xhaka did now not help Arsenal’s already stretched midfield ranks via getting a red card in opposition to Liverpool.
The 29-yr-vintage obtained his marching orders after most effective 25 mins of Thursday’s 0-zero Carabao Cup draw at Anfield. Indeed, the Gunners then had to live largely at the returned foot for the relaxation of the competition.
However, the traffic dug in to keep a clean sheet. As such, they have got installation an exciting semi-very last 2nd leg at the Emirates Stadium next Thursday.
Xhaka’s crimson card came after nearly regular Liverpool stress inside the opening stages. Arsenal had shown some attacking risk, but Arteta mentioned after the match that taking place to ten men triggered a alternate in formation.
Furthermore, the supervisor was not able to make like-for-like modifications. Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are on Africa Cup of Nations duty, whilst Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard had been now not inside the squad.
Arteta advised Sky Sports: “To plan with the numbers that we have already got, we don’t have any midfielders inside the squad.
“So it becomes sincerely complicated because whatever we're going to do, it is not going to be natural. We played with 3 midfield players, Gabriel Martinelli, [Albert] Sambi Lokonga and Bukayo Saka.
“They never played there in their lives, they in no way performed in that formation.
“We trust that that could help them and nonetheless deliver us a hazard in counter-attacking moments and they did it actually properly.”
Arteta praised his facet’s “high-quality combat, dedication, mind-set” and “brotherhood” as they stored a smooth sheet.
