Mikel Arteta may be tempted to alter his Arsenal system in order to cover for three potentially huge absences in this weekend’s North London Derby against Tottenham. The Gunners head into the clash against their bitter rivals facing a midfield crisis with Mikel Merino and Declan Rice already set to be absent.
In the build up the 1-1 draw against Brighton, Merino suffered a shoulder injury which looks set to keep him out for a significant period. Rice meanwhile, was sent off in the clash against the Seagulls which means he now has to serve a one-match ban.
With two key midfielders unavailable, club captain Martin Odegaard could join the duo in missing out after he picked up an injury on international duty. The 25-year-old fell awkwardly on his ankle in a challenge with Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner which saw left in pain on the ground and subsequently replaced.
Odegaard has returned to London today in order to undergo assessment but it does not look good, especially as he was pictured boarding a plane with crutches and without a shoe on his left foot. As such, not only will Arteta have to replace Rice in his starting XI, but the worst-case scenario would see him also need someone to come in for Odegaard.
