Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is facing some fresh injury concerns ahead of the crucial clash with PSG in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
As it stands, Arsenal are trailing 1-0 to PSG, following Ousmane Dembele’s decisive strike at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg.
Mikel Arteta will be looking for a comeback at the Parc des Princes, but his options within the squad could be limited.
Jurrien Timber’s injury is a concern for the side, with the Arsenal star missing out on the previous clash with Bournemouth.
Beyond him, there is now a worry regarding Martin Odegaard, with RMC Sport reporting that the club captain is now a doubt for the match.
That could force a bit of a switch from the Arsenal boss when it comes to his team, should he need to make some changes.
So with that said, here’s a look at three options who could replace Odegaard against PSG, if he is out injured.
- READ MORE: Not just Dembele, PSG handed another huge injury blow before Arsenal clash in the Champions League
Ethan Nwaneri could be a natural Martin Odegaard replacement
A natural replacement in the number ten position could be Ethan Nwaneri, who has featured there regularly in the Arsenal academy.
The starlet has largely played on the right wing since coming into the senior side, but his fortunes as a playmaker could change things.
Odegaard’s struggles in creating chances may well transform with Nwaneri, who seems to lack the fear to try things in his play.
What the 18-year-old may bring in creativity, he could well lack in the off-the-ball work that Odegaard brings to the team.
In such an important tie, it will be key that Arsenal are winning the ball in the right areas and that they aren’t played through too easily, something they will miss if Odegaard is out.
Mikel Merino may take up Arsenal’s midfield role
The Arsenal midfield could be due for a shake-up once again, with Thomas Partey’s return from suspension set to boost the team.
While he is available once again, Odegaard’s absence could see Mikel Merino retain the midfield role he was given in the previous leg.
The Spaniard is more than comfortable in there, but the question then turns to which player would play as a striker.
Last time, Arteta opted for Leandro Trossard, who could be handed the opportunity again, while Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri can also play there.
Leandro Trossard could feature in Arsenal’s formation change
When Odegaard was out injured in the early stages of the season, Arteta tried plenty of different things to find a solution to his absence.
One of those that Arsenal landed on was a 4-4-2 formation, with two strikers who are capable of going either way.
Trossard and Kai Havertz were the two to combine, and while it had mixed success, it did work in beating PSG earlier in the campaign.
While Havertz is out, Merino has been as close as the side will get to having that physical centre-forward profile.
By making such a switch to two strikers, it could turn the tie around.
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