Mikel Arteta says multiple Arsenal players ‘carrying issues’ after FA Cup win at Mansfield

Mikel Arteta has said he had to rotate his Arsenal team for the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Mansfield Two due to multiple first-team players “carrying issues” with fatigue.

Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori were two established players who did start in the 2-1 win, but both were forced off with knocks in each half.

“Both of them had little niggles,” Arteta said after the match. “They were not comfortable to continue. And I knew that this could be a possibility, especially in the conditions that we’re playing today. So we had to take them off.”

Trossard’s injury was not clear, but Calafiori seemed to have a hamstring issue after twisting quickly to clear a loose ball.

Arteta made nine changes to the team that started Arsenal’s Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Arsenal handed starts to Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, both aged 16, while 18-year-old defender Jaden Dixon came on as a substitute in the closing stages to make his debut.

Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, David Raya and Gabriel are four of Arsenal six most used players in all competitions and were not included in the matchday squad.

Asked whether they were carrying issues or if the decision was solely to rest them, the Arsenal manager said: “Well, they had issues and they’ve been carrying issues. And the amount of games that we are playing, it’s obviously super demanding.

“And it was the only time to try to make sure that we can clean those issues that they’re having to start the next sequence of two weeks before the break in the best possible way. And we had to make those decisions.”

Arsenal’s next match is the Champions League last-16 first leg away to Bayer Leverkusen, where the players will be expected to return.

Arteta’s side then return to Premier League action against Everton at home on March 14.