Mikel Arteta insists size doesn’t matter as he defends shrinking Arsenal squad despite Tierney and Partey injuries

MIKEL ARTETA defended his decision to assemble a small Arsenal squad — despite it coming back to bite him on the bum.

Gunners boss Arteta let six players leave in January without signing any replacements.

It left him with a squad of just 20 senior players.

But he is now without left-back Kieran Tierney for the rest of the season as he needs knee surgery.

Key midfielder Thomas Partey is also a long-term doubt with a thigh injury.

Arteta said: “We haven’t had a big squad all season but we can’t look for any excuses.

“We have lost Kieran and Thomas and that’s it.

“We will continue to try with the players we have, like we’ve been doing since the start of the season.”

Arteta will be praying Takehiro Tomiyasu could finally be available to return for Saturday’s vital home game with Brighton.

The Japan defender has been out with a calf injury since January but his availability would allow Cedric Soares to switch to left-back to cover for Tierney.

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Nuno Tavares filled in at Crystal Palace on Monday but was taken off at half-time as Arsenal lost 3-0.

That defeat leaves Arsenal back in fifth place in the Premier League.

And playmaker Martin Odegaard admitted: “It was a terrible game from us from start to finish.

“We weren’t strong on the ball, we didn’t win any duels and we looked slow.

“We have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”