Arsenal will face Tottenham away in the fourth round of the Premier League without the services of Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice.
Arsenal’s Norwegian captain Ødegaard sustained an injury during the September FIFA Days and may miss the North London derby against Tottenham. Ødegaard was seen in considerable pain on the pitch before needing assistance to leave the field.
Ødegaard scored in both encounters against Tottenham last Premier League season, so his absence will significantly impact Arsenal’s attacking options. Additionally, another key player for Mikel Arteta, Declan Rice, will also be missing.
The English midfielder received a red card in Arsenal’s 3-3 draw with Brighton in the third round of the Premier League. This means The Gunners will be without two of their three central midfielders. Alongside Rice and Ødegaard, Thomas Partey is the only remaining central midfielder who has featured in all three Premier League matches so far. In the current situation, experienced Jorginho may be called upon by Arteta to fill Rice’s role.
When Ødegaard is unavailable, Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard could be considered by the Spanish manager. Havertz has been performing well recently in a false nine role, but he has primarily played as a creative midfielder throughout his career, making him a viable replacement for Ødegaard.
On the other hand, Trossard’s versatility is a significant asset. The former Brighton player can take on various attacking roles, including playing as an attacking midfielder. Arsenal’s lack of squad depth has been a recurring issue in recent years and seems to be resurfacing.
The timing of new signing Mikel Merino’s injury is unfortunate, and Arteta has also sanctioned the sale of several backup players this summer. While the quality of Arsenal’s first team is unquestionable, fatigue has often been a concern.
Emile Smith Rowe joined Fulham just a few weeks ago, and Fabio Vieira has been loaned back to Porto for the season. Both players could have played in the attacking midfield role had they remained at the Emirates.
Gabriel Jesus will return in peak condition and could play as the central striker if Havertz moves into midfield. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are other key players expected to contribute significantly, while new signing Raheem Sterling may be used as a substitute.
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