The Arsenal starting eleven has been ripped apart in the opening weeks of the season, certainly not by opposition sides but instead by something entirely out of their control – injury. Several members of Mikel Arteta’s squad have been absent for extended periods or through controversial suspensions from eyebrow-raising rulings.
Yet despite these challenges, Arsenal look set to emerge from the smog of these problems in very good shape. They remain unbeaten in the league with just two games in which they have dropped points, one of course being at the champions Manchester City where seconds separated them from a famous victory.
The positive is that the midfield is yet to come together for the first time in a way many imagined it at the conclusion of the summer transfer window. Edu, the sporting director, made a key piece of investment, pushed by Arteta, to sign Mikel Merino who has only recently returned from a bizarre shoulder injury.
Martin Odegaard, meanwhile, has been missing since the September international break with a ankle problem with some social media storms suggesting he could be out until the festive period. Thankfully, Arteta has now brought a firm fist down on those claims and with it instilled some optimism.
Speaking ahead of the game against Bournemouth this coming weekend he said: “I think he’s not going to be fit for this game. Next week will be a different story, but again, in that later stage of rehab where he is at the moment because he’s doing already a lot of the stuff.
