Mikel Arteta has one bold Arsenal solution after Declan Rice and Mikel Merino blow ahead of Tottenham

Mikel Arteta will be without some key players when Arsenal take on their fierce local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. 

Arsenal will travel to take on Tottenham Hotspur in a North London derby clash just after the international break.

This is a highly important fixture to both sides, and Mikel Arteta will be keen for his team to make a statement. Having dropped points against Brighton last time out, the Gunners need to get back to winning ways and show that they are ready to seriously push Manchester City in another Premier League title race.

However, doing so will not be easy. Not only will Spurs want to beat their neighbours in what is sure to be a hostile and unwelcoming environment for Arsenal, but Arteta will have to field a somewhat weakened midfield in this match.

Why Mikel Merino and Declan Rice won’t play Spurs

Summer signing Mikel Merino picked up an injury in his first training session as an Arsenal player that is expected to keep him out for a number of weeks. It is therefore vanishingly unlikely that he will be available to play any part in this derby clash.

On top of that, Declan Rice was controversially sent off against the Seagulls, after tapping the ball away after Brighton had been awarded a free kick.

Referee Chris Kavanagh has come under fire for this decision. Gary Lineker feels that Rice was harshly punished for the minor infraction. The former West Ham United man will serve his one-game suspension when the Gunners face-off against Spurs.

Club captain Martin Odegaard will feature against Tottenham, and with Merino still unable to make his debut, Thomas Partey will likely keep his place in the starting XI at the base of the midfield trio.

However, Arteta will have to come up with a solution to the left-eight midfield berth.

Time for Ethan Nwaneri to start for Arsenal?

Kai Havertz could drop back into this midfield role, but the German has been in fine form up front of late. What’s more, Gabriel Jesus may not be fit for the match, which would surely force Havertz to have to lead the line.

Instead, Arteta could turn to Hale End academy wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri. The attacking midfielder has vast potential, and already has two Premier League outings to his name, both coming as a substitute.

It would be a big ask for the 17-year-old to start in a game of this magnitude, but he seems to have the personality and maturity to cope with it.

Arteta has promised Nwaneri that he will play this season. Now is the time to be bold and keep that promise.