Mikel Arteta names Arsenal player who was "cramping from minute 45" at Nottingham Forest as Riccardo Calafiori sub explained

Arsenal could not find a way past Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night as they fell 13 points behind Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title. Arne Slot’s side beat Newcastle United 2-0 at Anfield to extend their lead at the top of the division.

The Gunners do have a game in hand, which will be played against Chelsea on March 16, with Liverpool’s game against Aston Villa moved forward to last week due to their involvment in the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.

Arsenal have been dealing with a host of injuries problems in the forward department with four players missing through injury. Two of those are out for the season with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus not back until the 2025-26 campaign. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are due back before the season is over and could return after the March international break.

Arteta explains Ethan Nwaneri and Riccardo Calafiori subs

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta substituted Riccardo Calafiori at half time against Forest. The defender almost put the Gunners ahead during the first half as a brilliant turn created space inside the box with his curling effort agonisingly striking the post. However, the Italian made way for Kieran Tierney at the interval. Myles Lewis-Skelly was not involved in the game following his red card against West Ham last weekend.

Arteta explained: “I took him because he got a yellow in the second minute. He had one or two situations defending [Callum] Hudson-Odoi and we couldn’t not play again with 10 men.”

Raheem Sterling came on for Ethan Nwaneri after 77 minutes with Arteta keen to protect the youngster’s fitness. He said: “He was cramping from minute 45, so we stretched him as much as we possibly could but we cannot lose the player and he was really fatigued.”

Arteta on using more academy players

After the draw with Forest, Arteta was asked if he could call on more academy players after impressive performances from Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly following their respective introductions into the senior side.

He responded: “We will think about that, I think we have many more options still to explore but as well, we can certainly do better with the situation that we are in, especially unlocking certain moments, the final pass, the quality on the deliveries, the consistency after sustained attacks. We have to insist, they give me reason to insist and support them the best that we all can.”

On the lack of goals, he added: “We have another day or two now to think before the PSV game, all the options that we have especially against a team that is in a low block. Even if they will arrive, if they will open up, if the opponent will be much better than us then I will probably be in a different state, I know that what’s lacking is that piece up there and I just said, there’s a lot to play for and we need to find the solution to unlock it.”