Arsenal will have to cope with a number of absences when it comes to Sunday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Mikel Arteta will be missing a number of key players for the North London derby.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is the latest to have succumbed to injury. The Norwegian playmaker picked up an issue whilst on international duty, and was clearly in significant pain as he limped off the pitch against Austria last night.
Arsenal’s medical team have asked after Odegaard, seeking an update on his condition, but it has to be assumed at this stage that the club captain will be sidelined for Sunday’s fixture.
Joining him on the treatment table will be Mikel Merino. The summer signing sustained an injury in his first training session as an Arsenal player.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice is also unavailable to face Spurs due to suspension. The former West Ham United man was controversially sent off against Brighton last time out.
With this trio all looking set to be ruled out for derby day, Arteta is due to be without what would arguably be the entirety of his first choice midfield.
The opportunity facing Arsenal after Martin Odegaard blow
There is always pressure surrounding the North London derby, and Arteta will be feeling the strain of having so many key players missing.
There is no such thing as a ‘free hit’ when it comes to Arsenal against Tottenham. Despite these absentees, the Gunners will be expected to deliver.
However, if Arteta’s side can achieve a positive result despite these issues it will provide a huge confidence boost for the entire Arsenal squad.
A victory would prove that the gap in quality between the two clubs is a chasm. Martin Keown believes Arsenal are ahead of Spurs, and now Arteta has the chance to prove that assertion beyond any doubt.
What’s more, this is an opportunity for whoever comes into the team to prove their worth. The likes of Jorginho, Ethan Nwaneri, and Thomas Partey could all step up and have a positive impact.
Arsenal’s summer risk backfires
Arsenal took a chance this summer, as they allowed both Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira to depart the club.
Both of these players would have been obvious replacements for Odegaard were he to ever be out of action.
The decision to let both leave was always a risk, and Arteta is now suffering the consequences of having made that gamble.
Arsenal fans have criticised Arteta for letting Vieira go.
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