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Leeds Today
By the People, for the People
Arsenal Manager Arteta Considers Scrapping Pre-Match Warmups After Injury Woes
Arteta open to major change to Arsenal's routine to keep title bid on track after multiple players injured in warmups this season.
Published on Feb. 21, 2026
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he is seriously considering scrapping the team's pre-match warmup routine after multiple players have suffered injuries during the warmups this season, including Riccardo Calafiori, William Saliba, and Bukayo Saka. Arteta acknowledged the recurring issue is "big time" under review, as the team has lost players to injury four times already this campaign during the warmup period. The manager is open to potentially not doing a warmup at all before matches, noting that the team goes "full gas" in the second half after a 15-minute halftime break.
Why it matters
Arsenal's title challenge has been threatened by a rash of injuries, with key players like Saliba, Saka, and now Calafiori going down during the pre-match warmups. This has raised serious questions about the value and necessity of the warmup routine, which is meant to prepare players physically but has instead led to significant setbacks for the Gunners. Arteta is now weighing whether scrapping the warmup altogether could help avoid these types of freak injuries and keep his squad healthier as they push for the Premier League title.
The details
In the latest incident, Calafiori was named in the starting lineup to face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, only to pull out minutes before kickoff due to an injury sustained in the warmup. This marked the second time this season Calafiori has been injured in the warmup, with Saliba and Saka also suffering warmup-related injuries earlier in the campaign. Arteta acknowledged the team is "looking at it" and considering major changes, including potentially not doing a warmup at all before matches. The manager admitted he now approaches pre-match preparations with a sense of dread, worried someone will come to his office with news of another injury.
- On August 31, William Saliba rolled his ankle in the warmup before the Liverpool match.
- On December 27, Riccardo Calafiori was injured in the warmup before the Brighton match.
- On January 31, Bukayo Saka was injured in the warmup before the Leeds match.
- On February 15, Riccardo Calafiori was again injured in the warmup before the Wigan match.
The players
Mikel Arteta
The manager of Arsenal Football Club, who is now seriously considering scrapping the team's pre-match warmup routine after multiple player injuries during the warmups this season.
Riccardo Calafiori
An Arsenal player who has suffered two separate injuries during the team's pre-match warmups this season, missing multiple games as a result.
William Saliba
An Arsenal player who was injured in the warmup before a match against Liverpool earlier this season, missing several games.
Bukayo Saka
An Arsenal player who was injured in the warmup before a match against Leeds, missing a few games.
What they’re saying
“Yeah, yeah, big time. They were very different. The first one was Willy [Saliba] when he rolled his ankle against Liverpool. Then we had two incidents with Riccy in the warmup in a really similar way. The other one was Bukayo after he rested in midweek, he didn't play against Kairat, and then against Leeds he gets an injury. Very unusual. Probably happened once or twice in six years I have been here and it happened four times there.”
— Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Manager (SI.com)
“To change that sometimes is tricky. It is a really good area to have a look. What would happen if we don't do the warmup? Because then. At half time, we go and sit almost for 15 minutes and then go full gas in the second half. Maybe it is something to think about.”
— Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Manager (SI.com)
What’s next
Arteta revealed that Calafiori will be fit for Wednesday's trip to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the Arsenal treatment room remains stocked with injured midfielders like Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Max Dowman. The manager acknowledged the team needs to get some key players back from injury to maintain their Premier League title challenge.
The takeaway
Arsenal's injury woes, particularly during the pre-match warmups, have become a major threat to their Premier League title bid. Arteta is now seriously considering scrapping the warmup routine altogether in an effort to avoid these types of freak injuries and keep his squad healthier as they push for the title. This highlights the delicate balance teams must strike between preparing players physically and avoiding unnecessary risks of injury.
