Arsenal are currently facing a challenging injury crisis, with several key players missing from their lineup. In their recent North London Derby victory against Tottenham, the Gunners were without Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mikel Merino, and Riccardo Calafiori. Despite this, Arsenal managed to secure a 1-0 win, much to the satisfaction of their manager, Mikel Arteta.
Reflecting on the match, Arteta acknowledged the difficulties the team faced due to the missing players, but praised their resilience. He said, โWe suffered because we had to adapt the plan because of the players that we had available. But I loved it. The second we started to get that news, the team got hungrier and hungrier to play that game. Itโs a big compliment to everybody at the club for stepping up in that way.โ Arteta emphasized that instead of looking for excuses, the team faced the challenge head-on, showing courage and determination to secure the win.
However, Arteta knows that tougher tests lie ahead. Arsenal are set to face Manchester City in a critical Premier League clash on Sunday, a game that could have significant implications for the title race. Before that, they kick off their Champions League campaign with a trip to face Europa League champions Atalanta, a team not to be underestimated. While Arsenal may be considered favorites, Atalantaโs victories over Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen last season demonstrate their ability to surprise stronger teams.
Arteta will have to navigate these upcoming matches with a depleted squad. There is some good news, as Declan Rice will return after serving a suspension that kept him out of the North London Derby. His presence will likely allow Arsenal to return to their favored 4-3-3 formation, rather than the 4-2-2-2 setup they used against Tottenham.
Unfortunately, Martin Odegaard remains a major doubt for the Champions League match against Atalanta. Arteta has indicated that Odegaard will be assessed closer to the game, but his availability is uncertain. Riccardo Calafiori, who picked up a calf injury on international duty, is also hopeful of returning soon, though his status for the upcoming games is still unclear.
In addition, Oleksandr Zinchenko missed the Spurs match with a calf injury, while Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Mikel Merino are all long-term absentees and will miss both the Atalanta and Manchester City games. Adding to the concerns, Bukayo Saka was substituted late in the Tottenham match after appearing to pick up an injury, and he will be assessed ahead of the trip to Italy.
As Arsenal prepare for these crucial fixtures, Arteta will need to rely on the depth of his squad and find new ways to overcome the challenges posed by their injury crisis.