Arsenal are leading the Premier League under Mikel Arteta despite battling an injury crisis that has deprived them of a host of attacking talents
Mikel Arteta is fighting against an injury crisis at Arsenal
Arsenal’s quest to end their lengthy Premier League title drought hit a snag over the weekend as they lost two vital points against Sunderland.
The 2-2 draw, sealed by a heart-wrenching last-minute equaliser from Brian Brobbey, sent the Gunners into the international break nursing their wounds and seeking solutions. Mikel Arteta’s squad remain at the top of the table, but Manchester City have narrowed the gap to a mere four points after thrashing Liverpool 3-0 on Sunday.
Sunderland’s two goals were the first Arsenal had conceded since September, breaking a streak of eight consecutive clean sheets. And to add insult to injury, Arsenal now face a daunting run of fixtures, with Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea all on the horizon before the month’s end.
Here’s all the latest news from the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta gets his way
Mikel Arteta was not happy about Arsenal’s fixture scheduling(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA)
Arteta’s request to move Arsenal’s Premier League match against Everton from December 21 to December 20, in order to alleviate fixture congestion, has been approved.
The Spanish manager was incensed after discovering his team would be playing two matches within 72 hours next month, with their Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace scheduled for December 23, reports the Mirror.
On Saturday, he revealed the club had been in direct discussions with the Premier League to address the issue. He said: “All the time the only thing that we talk about is the welfare of the players and the supporters and if we want to maintain that principle this cannot be the case – we cannot play Sunday and Tuesday.
“So we have very positive talks to the clubs and to the Premier League and hopefully we’ll find a way to help as much as possible… we cannot allow ourselves to put in that situation.”
The request was granted, with the Premier League confirming on Tuesday: “Player welfare is a priority for the Premier League, and we have therefore granted requests from Arsenal and Crystal Palace to move their respective fixtures.”
Odegaard injury update
Martin Odegaard is hoping to make his Arsenal comeback after the November international break(Image: Rob Newell/Getty Images)
Martin Odegaard is still facing an extended period out of action according to Norway manager Stale Solbakken, who disclosed that the Arsenal captain remains “some distance” away from making a comeback.
When questioned about an update on Odegaard’s recovery before Norway’s match against Estonia, Solbakken revealed: “It is steady. It is going in a steady direction but he is some distance away.”
Odegaard picked up an MCL injury during Arsenal’s 2-0 triumph over West Ham in October following a knee collision with Crysencio Summerville. The attacking midfielder has now reached a crucial stage in his rehabilitation whilst in Norway.
The development represents a major setback for the Gunners, who will be eager to have their influential captain back at the earliest opportunity to strengthen their title charge.
Rooney warning
Wayne Rooney has given his view on Arsenal’s injury crisis(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside, Offside via Getty Images)
Players coming back from injury can be a blessing – but also a curse. That’s the view of Wayne Rooney, who reckons an influx of returning stars can create selection dilemmas and even a hint of discord in the dressing room.
Beyond Odegaard, Arsenal are presently missing Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli. For most of the campaign, Arteta’s attacking line has essentially selected itself due to injuries and availability, but with several crucial forwards approaching a comeback, striking the right balance could prove challenging.
“It can cause problems, similar to Liverpool when they sign too many players and you have got players who are getting left on the bench who normally would be playing, that can cause problems as well in the dressing room,” Rooney said on The Overlap Fan Debate.
“I don’t think it’s always a good thing to have everyone [available] if you have such a good squad, it’s actually sometimes probably quite refreshing for the manager to have them out.”
Havertz, Madueke and Martinelli are anticipated to be back by month’s end, with Odegaard and Jesus expected to return in December and January respectively. Arteta faces the challenge of balancing playing time and squad harmony to maintain a positive environment as they approach the vital latter stages of the campaign.
