Arsenal have had an excruciating worldwide break.
Heading into the interval with a sense that Man Metropolis had already stolen a march after a disappointing 1-1 draw in opposition to Brighton, the Gunners have been seeking to regroup and recuperate.
An injured Martin Odegaard, a freak Riccardo Calafiori calf knock, and a coaching floor bust-up later, and Mikel Arteta will probably be left questioning whether or not he could not have simply made an excuse to maintain his boys wrapped up in north London.
For that is the place they’re going to stay this weekend for the aspect’s shortest away journey within the calendar – a face-off with bitter rivals Tottenham in a hotly-anticipated derby.
Forward of the ill-timed crunch match, Mail Sport delves into the teamsheet gymnastics Arteta might need to carry out to get 11 gamers out on the sector on Sunday – and why it would contain a 17-year-old wonderkid.
After an excruciating worldwide break, Mikel Arteta has been left questioning whether or not he could not have simply made an excuse to maintain his boys wrapped up in north London
After a disappointing 1-1 draw in opposition to Brighton, the Gunners have been seeking to regroup and recuperate
This weekend they make the shortest away journey of their calendar – a face-off with bitter rivals Tottenham in a hotly anticipated derby
Odegaard suffered a worrying ankle damage throughout Norway’s Nations League match in opposition to Austria which noticed him helped off the pitch
Shedding a talismanic captain is a setback at one of the best of instances however dropping him forward of a derby, a Champions League tie, and a visit to Man Metropolis is an unmitigated catastrophe.
Odegaard suffered a worrying ankle damage throughout Norway’s Nations League match in opposition to Austria which noticed him helped off the pitch by two members of the backroom employees.
The midfielder was challenged for the ball and his ankle twisted on the pitch in toe-curlingly awkward trend, the 25-year-old instantly realising his sport was over.
How lengthy the Norwegian will probably be out for stays to be seen however he seems to be prone to be absent for the gruelling run of matches which full the month of September.
Odegaard joins a ballooning Arsenal absentee checklist which, in case you embody suspensions, now consists of seven first-team stars, that means they now have the smallest squad within the Premier League with simply 22 gamers.
The disaster began way back to the Euros, the place Kieran Tierney keeled over on the pitch with a hamstring damage in Scotland’s draw with Switzerland.
Across the similar time, the Gunners’ full-back choices shrunk additional as Takehiro Tomiyasu suffered a knee pressure which dominated him out of pre-season. The Japanese defender’s restoration has been slower than anticipated and he stays on the sidelines.
Absolutely-paid member of the Emirates therapy room, Gabriel Jesus, was the subsequent to go, the Brazilian striker struggling one other irritating setback in between the aspect’s opening weekend win over Wolves and their second match in opposition to Aston Villa.
Shedding a talismanic captain is a setback at one of the best of instances however dropping him forward of a derby, a Champions League tie, and a visit to Man Metropolis is an unmitigated catastrophe
The disaster began way back to the Euros, the place Kieran Tierney keeled over on the pitch with a hamstring damage
Across the similar time, the Gunners’ full-back choices shrunk additional as Takehiro Tomiyasu suffered a knee pressure
Absolutely-paid member of the Emirates therapy room, Gabriel Jesus, was the subsequent to go
Mikel Merino, signed from Actual Sociedad then picked up a knock in his first Arsenal session
And after ready the majority of the summer time to signal midfielder Mikel Merino from Actual Sociedad, the Spaniard then picked up a knock in his very first Arsenal session. Plus ca change.
This was all earlier than a global break which noticed Odegaard hobble off in Oslo and new recruit Calafiori getting injured in a freak incident.
The Italian left-back tackled France’s Ousmane Dembele solely to have the winger fall closely onto him, leaving the 22-year-old together with his head in his palms.
Add in Declan Rice’s suspension after two yellow playing cards in opposition to Brighton, and an unsettled Jurrien Timber following a coaching floor scrap with Dutch teammate Wout Weghorst, and Arteta is left scratching round for stand-ins.
All of it opens the door for Ethan Nwaneri – a 17-year-old attacking midfielder many Arsenal followers have been crying out for.
The expertise impressed in pre-season, beginning in matches in opposition to Bournemouth and Man United and approaching in a number of different friendlies.
Nwaneri scored ten objectives in 13 matches within the Premier League 2 final season and 6 in simply two video games within the FA Youth Cup, and Gunners supporters have been taking to X, previously Twitter, to precise their pleasure at the opportunity of a beginning berth for the English teen.
Some are predicting a efficiency much like that of Cesc Fabregas within the North London Derby in October 2009, the place the Spaniard ran half the size of the pitch for Arsenal’s second purpose.
Riccardo Calafiori tackled France’s Ousmane Dembele solely to have the winger fall onto him
Add in Declan Rice’s suspension after two yellow playing cards in opposition to Brighton and Arteta is left scratching round for stand-ins
Jurrien Timber (proper) had a coaching floor scrap with Dutch teammate Wout Weghorst (left)
All of it opens the door for Ethan Nwaneri – a 17-year-old attacking midfielder with rave opinions
Some are predicting a efficiency much like that of Cesc Fabregas in October 2009
Others expect a show paying homage to Jack Wilshere’s in opposition to Barcelona in 2011 when he dominated a midfield boasting Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
Not eager to spoil the celebration, however it appears unlikely that Arteta will throw such a helpful future star into the cauldron of an away match in opposition to Spurs. Nwaneri’s probability will come however a run-out on Sunday can be unduly daring.
Taking it again a step, the substitute for the reliable Rice is less complicated to foretell. The skilled Jorginho will possible slot in at quantity six.
As if to rub his supervisor’s face in it a tad, the Englishman produced a thumping strike to offer his nationwide group the lead in a fierce Nations League match in opposition to Eire, the place he was the topic of relentless boos because of his earlier worldwide appearances for the aspect in inexperienced.
Returning to Odegaard’s substitute, would possibly Arteta take the chance to construct a extra defensive midfield specifically tailor-made to nullify an aggressive Spurs aspect?
Ange Postecoglou instills a gung-ho method amongst his costs and boasts a wealth of attacking expertise together with Heung-Min Son, James Maddison and, now, Dominic Solanke.
However Arteta’s choices to stem a free-flowing Spurs are restricted. Timber might need slotted into midfield however he’s too helpful at left-back. Calafiori, a shrewd ball-player, can be an fascinating experiment however he, after all, is injured.
In the meantime, Oleksandr Zinchenko might need as soon as been thought of, enjoying a great deal of his 33 video games within the 2022-23 marketing campaign in that place, however the Ukrainian has fallen out of favour on the Emirates.
This leaves essentially the most attacking, and almost definitely, ploy: shift centre-forward Kai Havertz into midfield, the place he performed lots of his matches at Chelsea, and let free a entrance three of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Others expect a show paying homage to Jack Wilshere’s in opposition to Barcelona in 2011
The skilled Jorginho will possible slot in at quantity six to switch the suspended Rice
Ange Postecoglou (proper) instills a gung-ho method amongst his costs and boasts a wealth of attacking expertise together with James Maddison (left)
Oleksandr Zinchenko might need as soon as been thought of however has fallen out of favour
This leaves essentially the most attacking, and almost definitely, ploy: shift Kai Havertz into midfield
Arteta, a devoted follower of the fashionable faculty of thought which obsesses over ‘duels’, values the German’s skill to win such battles all around the pitch.
Offered Saka tracks again to assist a barely diminished defence, then this reshuffled Gunners aspect would possibly provide a wealth of attacking aptitude whereas not leaking too many probabilities by the hands of their fierce rivals.
Both manner, with 4 attackers on the pitch without delay, and the potential for a fired-up Nwaneri to make his derby bow, Arsenal’s loss is the impartial’s acquire.