Arteta rues key absentees

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal could have enjoyed a more successful campaign if players such as Jack Wilshere had avoided long-term injuries.

Arsenal have climbed to third on the English Premier League table thanks to a run of six victories in succession, helping to banish memories of a dire start to the season.

Midfielder Jack Wilshere has not played for Arsenal this term, while key men Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna have also spent long spells on the sidelines.

And Arteta, an off-season arrival from Everton, believes the team could have done much better without those absences.

“We have been hit with important, long-term injuries the whole season that really, really affect the team,” he told Sport Magazine.

“I would like to see this team playing with the same 11 for 10 to 15 games – then we could talk about if we were good enough or not.

“Now we are starting to do it and we are starting to get really good results, so for me the biggest concern is to stop the injuries.”

Arsenal are away to Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League on Saturday.