Arsenal may be forced into some unwanted changes in midweek as injuries start to stack up again before a crucial clash with PSG in the Champions League.
The Gunners were left frustrated over the weekend, as a defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League hasn’t given them any momentum heading into the key clash coming up.
On top of that are some injuries for Mikel Arteta to ponder over, with Jurrien Timber absent from the match altogether.
Then there’s an injury concern for Martin Odegaard, who is claimed to be a doubt ahead of Arsenal’s clash with PSG.
With such an important Champions League match ahead, the absence of those players could be costly for the north London side.
Regardless of those problems, Arteta will have to find a solution within his Arsenal side, and fortunately, he may already have it with a formation change.
- READ MORE: Not just Dembele, PSG handed another huge injury blow before Arsenal clash in the Champions League
Mikel Arteta could revert to a 4-4-2 formation in PSG repeat after Martin Odegaard’s injury
Arsenal have already beaten PSG this season, dispatching the French giants in the league phase of the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium.
While the months since have seen both sides change dramatically, there were some lessons that Arteta can take from it.
Back in October, Martin Odegaard had an ankle injury that kept him out of the team and called for solutions.
Against PSG, Arteta opted for a 4-4-2 formation, picking Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz as the dual strikers.
It clearly worked, and while Havertz is out injured, there could be a chance for Mikel Merino to fill that space instead, with a similar physical profile.
It may make for a greater challenge against PSG, with many different moving parts in the frontline likely to make it harder for the defenders to track the Arsenal forwards.
The one downside, though, could come from something that was shown late in the first leg of the tie.
- READ MORE: Mikel Arteta aims clear dig at PGMOL over Arsenal referee decisions as ‘new rules’ claim made
Arsenal must beware of PSG threat on the counter-attack
With a 4-4-2, the main issue that can often arise is the midfield being overloaded by the opposition.
Given the strength of the PSG midfield three, who ran the show at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal could be in some danger.
Most notably, the danger of the transition is the highest, given the lead PSG already have and the way they managed to pick the Gunners off in the late stages of the first leg, but simply failed to put away their chances.
Thomas Partey’s return from suspension comes as a huge boost in that way, but Odegaard’s ability off-the-ball could be a huge miss.
That’s the risk Arteta may have to take if he is unavailable, though, with the Gunners chasing the game in the second leg.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
