Arsenal loses Saliba and Tomiyasu to injury

Arsenal suffered a double injury blow last night after William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu limped off after barely 20 minutes in a Europa match against Sporting CP.

The Gunners were eliminated from the competition by Sporting at the last 16 stage, losing on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw, with Gabriel Martinelli missing the crucial spot kick from 12 yards.

Mikel Arteta was forced into two early changes on the night with Tomiyasu the first to go after eight minutes, slipping and overstretching awkwardly with Ben White brought in to replace him.

Saliba followed 12 minutes later with what appeared to be a back problem.

Giving an update on the injured duo in his post-match press conference, Arteta said;

“I don’t know. Tomiyasu looks pretty serious from his reaction straight away and what he said to me, but obviously it’s very early.

“Willy [Saliba], I don’t know, he had some discomfort and could not continue so we had to take him out.”

Arsenal’s focus will now shift to a Premier League match with Crystal Palace on Sunday, March 19, before the international break.