The Arsenal squad has already been adversely affected by the suspension of Declan Rice, which was announced ahead of the international break. Adding to their troubles, Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard may also be sidelined. Ødegaard sustained an injury during Norway’s 2-1 victory over Austria on Monday night and was seen limping off the pitch. Reports from football.london revealed that the following day, Ødegaard was photographed boarding a plane on crutches, with his left foot notably without a shoe.
Furthermore, Mikel Merino is unavailable after suffering an injury in training before the season commenced. With these developments, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces significant challenges in determining his lineup for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at their home stadium.
Alan Smith, a revered Arsenal legend, has shared his perspectives on potential replacements for Ødegaard. Speaking on Sky Sports News, Smith suggested that Oleksandr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard could be viable options for filling the void left by Ødegaard. However, Smith posits that Jorginho is the most probable candidate to step in for Ødegaard due to his experience, despite having been a substitute for the first three games of the season. Smith also mentioned Kai Havertz as a possible alternative, especially if Gabriel Jesus is available to lead the attack.
Zinchenko, who has primarily been used as an inverted left-back at both Arsenal and Manchester City, has accumulated considerable experience playing as a central midfielder for the Ukrainian national team. This background makes him a reasonable choice to replace Ødegaard, though Arteta might prefer Jorginho or Havertz given their familiarity with the midfield role.
In summary, Arsenal faces an uphill battle with crucial players potentially missing from their North London derby against Tottenham. Despite these challenges, the team has several quality options to consider for their midfield, even though the absence of key figures like Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard is significant.
