Mikel Arteta fears Arsenal’s growing injury list could damage their bid to win the quadruple.

Arteta’s side booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 4-0 win against Wigan at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

But the Gunners’ ruthless dismissal of the League One strugglers was marred by injuries to Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White.

Italy defender Calafiori suffered a problem in the pre-match warm-up and was unable to play, while right-back White was forced off in the second half.


Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard did not feature in the fourth round tie after sustaining a knock in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brentford on Thursday.

Germany forward Kai Havertz is set to be absent for at least the remainder of the month and Spain midfielder Mikel Merino is expected to be out for the rest of the season after undergoing foot surgery.

With Arsenal top of the Premier League, through to the Champions League last 16 and due to face Manchester City in the League Cup final, Gunners boss Arteta conceded the fitness woes were starting to become alarming.

“Yes. Before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders and now it is the midfielders,” he said.

“We are coping with that. But we need some players back and fit, not only for numbers but different options in relation to the opponents we have, so the quicker they are back the better.”

Al-Ittihad have entered talks with Liverpool great Mohamed Salah.

The Financial Times says the striker’s destination is clear: the 33-year-old is aiming for the Saudi Pro League and negotiations with Al-Ittihad are already underway to explore a potential deal.

Liverpool are already preparing for Salah’s departure and scouting possible replacements. The Egyptian is expecting an offer “comparable to the exceptional terms given to Cristiano Ronaldo . “

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation is determined to bring Salah to the league. A first draft contract includes a package consisting of an exorbitant salary, “including future opportunities to acquire club shares and a long-term agreement whereby Salah will act as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia”.

Although negotiations with Al-Ittihad are already underway, the league is reportedly still undecided on which club Salah will join.

League officials are currently holding intensive talks with the country’s top clubs. Besides Al-Ittihad, who are looking to replace Karim Benzema (38), who moved to Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr is also said to be among the favourites to sign Salah.

The Times says Villa could face a hefty fine for breaching UEFA’s financial rules for the second consecutive year. Specifically, the Villans have exceeded the limits on squad costs.

Clubs that spend more than 70 per cent of their income on player salaries, transfers, and agents are penalised.

Back in the summer, the Birmingham club was fined €6m for exceeding the limit, which at the time was even set at 80 per cent, in 2024. The limit was lowered further for the following year.

According to The Times, it was foreseeable that Villa would be unable to comply, even though the club will adhere to the Premier League ‘s PSR rules . This is considerably easier, however, as the club can book the equivalent of €64m, received from the sale of its women’s team to its parent company, as revenue.

UEFA, however, does not recognize such quasi-internal accounting practices.