Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that he is still none the wiser about the severity of Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber's apparent injuries in the Gunners' 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool.
The North London giants were aiming for a third straight home win against the Reds in the Premier League, but Arteta was missing three key cogs in captain Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori and the suspended William Saliba.
However, the Spaniard received two significant boosts in the shape of Bukayo Saka and Timber's returns to the first XI, and the former fired Arsenal in front early doors with a record-breaking goal.
Mikel Merino then responded to Virgil van Dijk's equaliser as Arsenal took a deserved lead into the interval, but the Gunners then went into their shell in the second half, where Gabriel and Timber both had to leave the field.
The hosts were camped in their own half for much of the second 45, and Liverpool finally got the leveller that their pressure warranted when Mohamed Salah finished from Darwin Nunez's pass across the box.
Arteta 'unsure' if Gabriel has suffered knee injury
© Imago
Gabriel appeared to hurt his knee in a tussle with Nunez early in the second half, and he initially tried to soldier on before dropping to the turf again and being replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
The Brazilian went straight down the tunnel before re-emerging with an ice pack on his knee, while Timber also failed to last the full 90, but he immediately took his place on the bench rather than going for further assessment.
Asked in his post-game press conference if starting the Dutchman was a gamble, Arteta responded: "We've done everything that we possibly could to accelerate that process, and he was so willing, the team, the medical staff have done amazing work and we gave ourselves the chance to compete. I don't know the extent of the injury if there is one, the same with Big Gabi."
When pressed on the nature of Gabriel's injury, Arteta had little to share, saying: "I don't know but he could not run, that's what he said straight away, so I don't know what happened. I don't know if it's the knee joint or the ankle, they are assessing him right now."
While Arsenal spent most of the second half defending their own goal, they had the ball in the back of the net with seconds of normal time remaining, although Anthony Taylor's whistle had long gone before Gabriel Jesus tapped home into an empty net.
Arteta responds to questions on disallowed Jesus goal
© Imago
Kiwior launched himself high onto Dominik Szoboszlai's back to nod the ball on, before Kai Havertz and Ibrahima Konate challenged for a header, and the former got first contact before beating an onrushing Caoimhin Kelleher.
Jesus was then on hand to prod home, but Taylor had already called play back for one of the earlier incidents - replays showed that he did not blow immediately for the Kiwior challenge, but the ball had struck Havertz's arm as he challenged with Konate.
Arteta was loath to discuss the incident in detail when asked if he had been told why the goal was disallowed, though, saying: "No, nothing. I'm sure we'll have some clarity or a letter afterwards, I don't know."
The Spaniard also stayed tight-lipped on the early exchange between Havertz and Van Dijk, who appeared to kick out at the German, saying: "I haven't seen the replay. Prefer not to comment."
Arsenal stay third in the Premier League table after Sunday's pulsating draw, four points behind Liverpool and five adrift of leaders Manchester City, and their next game comes away to Preston North End in the EFL Cup last 16 on Wednesday.
Ben Knapton
