Maybe that was the reason why Arteta was eager to point out that Arsenal’s players now “train less than ever” and go into a deeper explanation about how too many games — and, as a result, not enough training — affects players’ recovery.
Given the number of injuries sustained by Arsenal players this season — others to have had long spells out include Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu — some have questioned whether Arteta’s training methods are to blame.
“When you have to load that muscle for two or three or six or eight weeks that you haven’t in training, the risk of injury is much bigger — one, because the tendon is not recovered, and then it’s not prepared to absorb the load and stress you are going to put it under every three days.”.
Arteta said he felt a “big pain in the tummy” after seeing Kai Havertz pick up a serious hamstring injury at the end of a light training session in Dubai that will rule the Germany forward out for the rest of the season.
It further stretches Arsenal’s resources up front, with Gabriel Jesus having ruptured his ACL, winger Bukayo Saka having not played since December because of a hamstring issue and another wide player, Gabriel Martinelli, set to miss the next month also with a hamstring injury.
