ARTETA WORRIED AS ARSENAL’S INJURIES PILE UP

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

Arteta’s span 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 sukkelers 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 baas Arteta conceded the fitness woes were starting to become alarming.

He wysed: “Yes. Before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders and now it is the midfielders.

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

Arsenal, four points clear at the top of the league, will take on bottom-of-the-table Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday before the north London derby at Spurs on Sunday.

They enjoyed the ideal preparation for a pivotal week by scoring four times in the first 27 minutes against Wigan.