Mikel Arteta has revealed that Arsenal are conducting a significant review of their pre-match warm-up protocols following a concerning and highly unusual series of injuries sustained by players immediately before games this season.
Calafiori Latest Victim of Pre-Match Setback
The issue was highlighted again last Sunday when defender Riccardo Calafiori was forced to withdraw from the starting lineup for the FA Cup tie against Wigan after picking up an injury during the warm-up. This marked the second such incident for Calafiori personally and the fourth occurrence for the Arsenal squad overall during the current campaign.
Arteta's Growing Concern
"We are big time looking at it," Arteta stated emphatically. He detailed the specific cases: "The incidents were very different: the first time was Willy [Saliba] rolling his ankle against Liverpool, then we had two incidents with Ricky [Calafiori] in the warm-up in a very similar way, then one with Bukayo [Saka] after he was rested in midweek – didn't play against Kairat Almaty – then against Leeds he has an incident."
The manager expressed his bewilderment at the frequency, noting it is a drastic departure from the norm. "It's very unusual. I think it's only happened once or twice in the six [previous] years I've been here. But it's happened four times this year. We are looking into it, but it is what it is. We have to learn."
Managerial Anxiety and Tactical Disruption
Arteta admitted the situation has created palpable anxiety in the moments leading up to kick-off. "I can feel in my body that I'm more aware of it. In the office at the moment if I hear my door and somebody stepping in I'm like: 'No please,' because it's a moment that's very tricky."
These last-minute changes cause significant tactical upheaval. "When you change Ricky for Bakayo you have to change other things within the gameplan; positionally there are a lot of things that are different, that you have two minutes to change," Arteta explained. He conceded that while it forces him to be a more prepared and adaptable coach, constantly dealing with "what-if" scenarios is far from ideal.
Questioning the Warm-Up's Purpose
The Spaniard went so far as to question the fundamental purpose and structure of the traditional warm-up. "Hopefully the players are already warm. But the warm-up is so that the players are activated to be absolutely at their best physically and mentally, to be connected with their teammates. It's to tell the body the game is coming, the adrenaline is going to start to pick up, the testosterone has to be in the right spot and you're ready to compete. To change that sometimes is tricky."
Arteta suggested a radical re-evaluation might be necessary, pointing to the half-time break as a comparative example. "It's a really good area to look at, though. What would happen if we didn't do the warm-up? Because then at half-time we sit for almost for 15 minutes and then we go full guns again in the second half. So maybe it's something to think about."
Despite the latest setback, Arteta expressed confidence that Calafiori would be available for selection in Arsenal's upcoming Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday. However, the club's in-depth analysis of their pre-match preparation routines is now underway in earnest as they seek to prevent further untimely injuries to key players in their pursuit of silverware.
