Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic FA Cup Clash: Early Injury Updates Reveal Six Players Ruled Out
Arsenal shift their focus to the FA Cup this weekend as they prepare to face League One club Wigan Athletic, aiming to maintain their presence across all competitions this season. The Gunners have endured a hectic schedule, including a recent match against Brentford on Thursday night, which may necessitate squad rotation for Sunday's cup encounter.
Wigan Athletic, also active mid-week with a loss to Reading on Tuesday, remain entrenched in the League One relegation zone. While the FA Cup might not be their top priority as they battle to secure their League One status, the team is undoubtedly eager to cause an upset against the Premier League giants.
Comprehensive Injury Roundup for Both Teams
Here is a detailed breakdown of the latest injury news affecting Arsenal and Wigan Athletic ahead of their FA Cup showdown.
Wigan Athletic Injury Concerns
- Baba Adeeko - Out: Manager Ryan Lowe provided an update, stating, "Baba is on the grass at the moment, so he and Luke Robinson are doing some running. I think Robbo is the next one in. Baba is still probably a month away, two months maybe, and Luke Robbo is probably a couple of weeks."
- Luke Robinson - Out: Robinson is included in the above assessment from Lowe and will not be available for the match.
- Harry McHugh - Out: Lowe added, "Harry McHugh is not far away, but a little bit longer. Other than that, they are all on track."
Arsenal Injury Setbacks
- Mikel Merino - Out: Merino will not miss the rest of the season despite a foot fracture. After the Spaniard's surgery, manager Mikel Arteta commented, "Well, I think the doctors were really happy the way it went. Yeah, now it starts. Obviously, it's a long process. You're talking about bone healing, so you need to be patient. You respect the timings, and I'm sure Mikel is going to do everything that he possibly can to speed up the process. We're talking about months, whether it's three, four or five, we don't know."
- Max Dowman - Out: Dowman is nearing a return but won't be ready for a couple of weeks. Arteta explained, "It will be a little bit more [longer] than Mosquera. He's growing, and we need to be very careful and a little more protective. He has a different schedule as well because he needs to go to school... But I think he's quite close. He's on the pitch now, he's doing well." He is expected back within approximately two weeks.
- Havertz - Out: Havertz has sustained a fresh muscular injury and is set to miss the next three games, adding to Arsenal's selection headaches.
This injury news could significantly impact team strategies and performance, with both sides missing key players as they vie for progression in the FA Cup.
