Three ways Arsenal could line up without Odegaard after injury setback

Arsenal are ready to study the complete extent of the knee harm sustained by Martin Odegaard in opposition to West Ham.

Odegaard clashed knees with Crysencio Summerville and needed to be substituted half-hour into Saturday’s 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that their captain has suffered a medial collateral ligament harm to his left knee and he has withdrawn from the Norway squad.

The Gunners are but to find how lengthy Odegaard can be out for, however his absence would go away Mikel Arteta with a choice to make as to who replaces him in midfield.

Right here, Normal Sport seems to be at 3 ways Arsenal might line up with out Odegaard…

That is the most definitely resolution for Arteta, who has already used Eberechi Eze as a No8 since his summer time transfer from Crystal Palace.

Eze was signed as a result of he’s a flexible participant who can play out huge or centrally, but it surely was anticipated he would break into the Arsenal crew on the left flank.

The 27-year-old made his debut there, nevertheless he has since been used via the center and even began there on Saturday alongside Odegaard.

Eze performed as a left No8 however when Odegaard went off he switched to develop into the proper No8, with Declan Rice pushed ahead alongside him.

Martin Zubimendi was then introduced on for Odegaard to play on the base of the midfield and Arsenal went on to dominate possession.

Eze prefers to play on the left aspect of midfield, which is the place he was utilized by Palace, however he did effectively on the proper by combining with Bukayo Saka.

Attainable XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

If Arteta is in search of a like-for-like alternative for Odegaard, then Ethan Nwaneri is the participant that almost all matches the invoice.

The 18-year-old is, like Odegaard, a left-footed playmaker and has impressed when given the possibility to play without any consideration No8.

When Odegaard injured his knee within the first residence Premier League recreation of the season, Arteta turned to Nwaneri.

He caught the attention on that day and helped Arsenal run out 5-0 winners in opposition to Leeds.

Nwaneri has discovered minutes onerous to return by since then, although, and he has began simply as soon as this season.

He was given the nod for the 2-0 win over Port Vale within the third spherical of the Carabao Cup final month, beginning alongside Eze as one among two No8s.

Eze’s expertise provides him the sting of Nwaneri, however stylistic {the teenager} could swimsuit what Arteta desires from that place.

Attainable XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Nwaneri, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze

Odegaard missed 4 video games earlier this season together with his shoulder harm and, for 3 of these matches, Mikel Merino was the person chosen to interchange him within the crew.

Merino was performed alongside Rice as one among two No8s, with Zubimendi sat behind them.

The mix proved efficient away at Athletic Bilbao – the place Arsenal gained 2-0 – but it surely struggled in different video games.

Arteta was criticised for lining up like that in opposition to Manchester Metropolis at residence, with the Gunners happening to assert a 1-1 draw.

There may be an argument that Merino and Rice as two No8s means Arsenal’s midfield lacks creativity, even when defensively it’s strengthened by such a pairing.

That’s the reason Arteta could favor to go along with a trio that features one among Eze or Nwaneri.

There’ll, nevertheless, undoubtedly be video games the place the Arsenal boss favours Merino as he stays an vital a part of this squad and somebody Arteta has nice religion in.

Attainable XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Merino, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze