Arsenal may have to travel to Merseyside to take on Liverpool next week without their captain Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners strolled to a routine 5-0 win over Leeds United at the Emirates on Saturday, courtesy of braces from Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres, and a stunning strike from Bukayo Saka.
The signing of Eberechi Eze was announced before the clash against the Yorkshire side, meaning it was generally an excellent night for Mikel Arteta.
However, both Saka and Martin Odegaard sustained injuries in the match, and are now doubts for the trip to Anfield.
Gary Neville says Mikel Merino will replace Martin Odegaard against Liverpool
Odegaard appeared to suffer a shoulder injury against Leeds and was forced off after just 38 minutes.
Despite having more senior options on his bench like Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard, Arteta called upon 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri to replace the Norwegian.
The Hale End graduate put in a commendable effort against Daniel Farke’s team, but was ultimately somewhat muted on the day.
Instead of placing his trust in the teenager at Anfield, Gary Neville thinks Arteta will bring Merino into the starting eleven.
“Then in midfield, you’ve got Zubimendi, you’ve got Rice, you’ve got Merino, and you’ve got Nwaneri – you’ve got players,” Neville said on his podcast.
“I think he’ll bring Merino in. I think what he’ll do is he’ll make it a lot stronger, a lot more physical.
“That’s what I would do, I think. I think that’s what Mikel Arteta will do. He will go for one of his more powerful players in there.”
Merino was an unused substitute for Arsenal on Saturday and was granted just eight minutes off the bench against Manchester United on matchday one.
However, Arteta did revert to the Spaniard frequently in big games last season, particularly during the run-in, so there is precedent to suggest he may do the same at Anfield.
Ethan Nwaneri or Eberechi Eze should replace Martin Odegaard at Anfield
Merino has been described as ‘insane’ in the past, and he certainly does have useful attributes.
His ability to win duels, to cover ground and to crash the box makes him a valuable player to have in a squad, but he shouldn’t be an option that is regularly relied on
While Arsenal should look to negate Liverpool’s attacking threat when they travel to the north-west, it is also somewhat inevitable that Arne Slot’s side will find a way to score, given their array of attacking talents.
Thus, the Gunners should be prepared to bring their own offensive threat, and try to expose the weaknesses in Liverpool’s defence.
This means they will need a more creative player in their midfield than Merino, and either Eze or Nwaneri should take this role.
Either one of the aforementioned attacking midfielders feeding a pacy front three in transition could be a recipe for success for Arsenal.
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