Why Oleksandr Zinchenko is absent from Arsenal matchday squad for North London Derby vs Tottenham
Arsenal have named their starting XI for the North London derby as the Gunners travel to face Tottenham.
Mikel Arteta is travelling to N17 incredibly light as the Arsenal manager was hit with two key injury blows during the international break.
The Gunners would have preferred not to have travelled to Tottenham without captain Martin Odegaard and summer arrival Riccardo Calafiori.
As well as the injured duo, prized midfielder Declan Rice misses out although Arteta has since suffered another injury concern.
Oleksandr Zinchenko suffers injury ahead of the North London derby
As Arsenal named their squad ahead of battling Tottenham, many were drawn to the bench.
At the start of the season, Arteta was spoiled for choice in both his favoured XI and his bench, which is a completely different tale on match day four.
A notable absentee is Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was in the running to play in midfield as a result of Odegaard and Rice’s unavailability.
Instead, the club confirmed that the Ukrainian is out of contention due to a calf injury, adding him to the list of players on the sidelines for the crucial fixture.
Zinchenko played twice during the international break for Ukraine and has returned unable to offer support at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Arsenal starting XI vs Tottenham
Aside from the absence of the left-back, there are other surprises that came with the squad news, as several Hale End teenagers made the bench.
Alongside Ethan Nwaneri come 17-year-old Ayden Heaven and Myles Lewis-Skelly and 18-year-old duo Ismeal Kabia and Maldini Kacurri.
As for senior players on the bench, Gabriel Jesus returns after fighting for fitness, with deadline day signings Neto and Raheem Sterling join Jakub Kiwior to make up the numbers on the sidelines.
It’s a concern for Arteta to have to enter a game as important as the North London derby without so many of his first team, with the chance there for a new hero to possible emerge for the Gunners.
