Mikel Arteta gives injury update on Gabriel and Jurrien Timber after both limped off in Liverpool draw – and claims people ‘cannot imagine’ how difficult Arsenal’s injury crisis is

Mikel Arteta bemoaned Arsenal’s growing injury list as his team face a defensive crisis after Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber limped off in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

The Gunners are facing an anxious wait to discover the extent of the issues to Magalhaes and Timber as Arteta’s team finished the game with a makeshift back-four of Thomas Partey, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Magalhaes appeared to suffer a knee injury while Timber, who hadn’t played for nearly month due to a muscular problem ahead of Sunday’s clash, complained of an issue near his thigh.

‘Very proud of the team, especially with the situation we are going through (with injuries) at the moment – probably you cannot imagine,’ Arteta said.

‘I don’t know (what impact the injuries had on the game). It’s what it is.

Gabriel Magalhaes hobbled out of the 2-2 draw after appearing to suffer a knee injury

Jurrien Timber had to withdraw on his return and complained of a problem near his thigh

‘We had five injuries in the back line. We have to adapt to it and we will continue to adapt. It’s the situation that we have.

‘Support them and praise the players because the courage again today was unbelievable and keep going.’

On Gabriel, the Gunners boss counted: ‘I don’t know but he could not run. I don’t know what happened.

‘I don’t know if it’s the knee joint or the ankle. They’re assessing him now.’

Timber was a major doubt for this game and asked if he regretted taking a risk on the Dutchman’s fitness, Arteta answered: ‘I think we’ve done everything we could to accelerate that process. He was so willing.

‘The team and the medical staff have done a great job. We gave ourselves the chance to compete. I don’t know the extent of the injury if there is one.’

Magalhaes and Timber joins key defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori on the sidelines. Captain Martin Odegaard is also a long-term absentee.

Despite their injury problems, Arsenal took a hard-earned point from their encounter

On whether the injuries meant the result was a point gained for Arsenal, manager Arteta added: ‘I’m very disappointed that we haven’t won the game today. I think we were better.

‘This is football, circumstances are making us better. If we are able to be where we are and compete in the manner that we do…I see the team and I have no doubts.’