Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appeared to hit back at Erik ten Hag after the
Manchester United boss suggested the Gunners have benefitted from a lack of injuries this season. Earlier this week, Ten Hag claimed that the
London outfit had been somewhat fortunate with their injury record.
Arsenal currently sit top of the
Premier League table, but were knocked out of the Europa League by Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night. United , meanwhile, find themselves 16 points behind the Gunners in the top-flight, albeit having having played a game less. However, Ten Hag's men are still in the hunt for Europa League and FA Cup glory this campaign, having already won the Carabao Cup by defeating Newcastle at Wembley last month. ALSO READ: Erik ten Hag on Manchester United plan for coping without Casemiro When asked about the Reds' injury issues after their Europa League win over Real Betis on Thursday, Ten Hag said: "I think until now we’ve only had one game where the whole squad was available. We had only one game like that. "That was the only time. When you see all season we have had some setbacks, every time we’ve dealt with it. We have to deal with it well but Arsenal, almost all the time their squad is totally available." However, Arteta was keen to stress that the Premier League leaders have in fact struggled with injuries this term, claiming that his side have 'dealt with' various problems over the course of the season. "We’ve been carrying injuries throughout the season," the Gunners boss said after the defeat to Sporting. "We had Emile [Smith Rowe] out for four months, Gabriel Jesus out for four months, Alex [Zinchenko] for two and half months, Thomas [Partey] for a month and a half, Eddie [Nketiah] for a month and a half. "We had quite a lot of injuries already, but we dealt with that." United are currently without Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen and Alejandro Garnacho through injury, while Anthony Martial has struggled for fitness this term and Antony missed the midweek clash with Betis due to illness. Moreover, the Reds will have to deal without Casemiro for four domestic matches after he was sent off in the goalless draw with Southampton last weekend. READ NEXT: All the latest Man United news, views and gossip Pellistri has given United a different threat in forward line What Maguire told Rashford in the dressing room after Real Betis Scholes names striker signing who would be perfect for United Manuel Pellegrini reacts to Real Betis exit to Manchester United