The win, secured by a superb volley from former Palace man Eberechi Eze, allowed the Gunners to solidify their position at the top of the Premier League table. However, the three points came at a potential cost, with several key players picking up knocks during the encounter.
Arteta confirmed that defender William Saliba was withdrawn at half-time due to an unspecified issue, with midfielder Declan Rice and full-back Riccardo Calafiori also having to be substituted in the second half. Additionally, substitute Gabriel Martinelli was seen limping off the pitch after the final whistle.
"The first one was Willy [Saliba] that obviously had to be out after the first half. Declan as well was struggling from the first half with a knock that he took, and Riccy [Calafiori] as well," Arteta stated in his post-match press conference. "Let's see how they recover."
The manager admitted he could not provide specific details on the severity of the issues, saying, "I don't really know. With Declan I don't really know because it was a knock, whether it was a calf or an Achilles... On Martinelli, he was a bit uncomfortable. He said he felt something but we don't know whether it's a muscular issue or not, so tomorrow we will have more news."
The growing list of doubts, which comes with several senior players already sidelined, will be a concern for the club as they navigate a demanding schedule. Arteta will be awaiting definitive medical updates on the condition of the quartet ahead of their upcoming cup and league fixtures.
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