New Arsenal absences give Mikel Arteta key warning before Tottenham and Manchester City
It can be the worst time to drop points, right before an international break where the frustration of the weekend lingers through the international matches. Arsenal have games against Tottenham and Manchester City to come after the break too which now have even greater added emphasis on needing to secure all three points.
The loss of Declan Rice through a red card suspension, Jurrien Timber’s substitution after going down with a knock and Martin Odegaard’s rough treatment also brought with it questions about where the team is at. Rice will miss the North London Derby which leaves Mikel Arteta with questions of his midfield.
Jorginho didn’t come off the bench in the entire game as Arteta looked to keep the balance and find outlets for a winner. Mikel Merino, the summer signing, is out for weeks with a shoulder injury suffered in his first training session.
Just one day after the transfer deadline day and we are here discussing the depth in the squad. The Italian would be fair to assume to come in for Rice should the suspension stand, but up against the athleticism of the Tottenham midfield and the mistakes he made in last season’s derby there will naturally be some nervousness.
Raheem Sterling will be available for the game and add a different dimension to Arsenal’s attacking options. A trial by fire arrives with Spurs and his former club Man City to come sandwiching the first Champions League game away to Atalanta which has been horrifically placed on the Thursday night before the trip to the Etihad Stadium.
The depth again will be tested and despite the importance of every European game in the new system, players like Sterling will need to be utilised. Riccardo Calafiori and youngsters like Ethan Nwaneri might also get some game time and while there is a depth problem perhaps in quantity, quality is not something lacking like it has been years gone by.
