Mikel Arteta acknowledged the pattern is unusual, noting that similar incidents happened only once or twice in his six years at the club, but four times this season. The most recent case involved Riccardo Calafiori being withdrawn before the Wigan game for the second time this season after pulling up in warm-up.
The forced changes have affected team selections, with Myles Lewis-Skelly moved back to left-back and Bukayo Saka starting in midfield during recent matches. Arteta admitted the uncertainty has altered his mindset in the final minutes before kick-off, stating: "I'm more aware of it. So I'm in the office, and I hear my door, and somebody is stepping in, and I'm like, 'No, please'."