The international break has arrived and Arsenal have waved goodbye to ten players as they join up with their respective countries to play Nations League games, friendlies and qualifiers. It has come at an ill-opportune moment for Mikel Arteta with his side on a winning run since the draw at Manchester City and still unbeaten this season.
Arsenal are just a point off league-leaders Liverpool and have already beaten one of their toughest European opponents, PSG, in this season’s revamped Champions League. They have done so while suffering persistent injury problems to the likes of Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ben White and Jurrien Timber.
While many players have gone off to international duty, many have stayed behind, including the aforementioned roster of injured stars. Arteta has said the likes of White, Timber and Zinchenko are close to a return and in contention.
With that said, sometimes the club opt to find a friendly, to play behind closed doors to put some important match minutes into the legs of their players, or help with reintegration after injury. football.london takes a look at what a team might look like should Arteta decide to go ahead with a match.
With David Raya away with Spain, backup keeper and loanee Neto would be able to get some minutes. Raya has had some fitness concerns this season despite only missing the game with Bolton in the League Cup and therefore having his Brazilian counterpart ready to come in is certainly vital.
Timber, White and Zinchenko could use a friendly to help in the final stages of their recovery and so join Takehiro Tomiyasu in a makeshift back four. The Japan international made his comeback against Southampton after a long lay-off and also would benefit from time on the field.
Jorginho was not called up to join Riccardo Calafiori with Italy and so can start in midfield. Thomas Partey is out with an illness and considering he pulled out late from duty it might be unwise for him to then play in a friendly.
Ethan Nwaneri will not be involved as he has been called up to represent England’s under-19s, however, Myles Lewis-Skelly has remained at the club and could feature with Jorginho in midfield. It is unlikely Odegaard will be available to play just yet after Arteta’s concerning last update, and so Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand might again make an appearance in midfield after some impressive displays with the senior squad in pre-season.
Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling stayed behind and will take up two of the three forward position. Ismeal Kabia made his senior debut in the League Cup against Bolton and the right winger can slot into the same role in this team too to get some valuable experience with the first team players.
Potential Arsenal behind-closed-doors XI: Neto; Timber, White, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Salah-Eddine; Kabia, Sterling, Jesus
