Arsenal await the results of the injury that has forced Bukayo Saka to withdraw from the England squad this weekend, with fitness doubts presenting multiple problems for Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta will be cursing the very idea of international breaks for the impact they threaten to have on Arsenal’s early-season Premier League title aspirations.
That is because during the 2024/25 campaign they haven’t treated the Gunners kindly in the slightest. Last month it was Martin Odegaard who returned from Norway’s fixtures with ligament damage, and now they have just watched Bukayo Saka limped off during England’s shock defeat to Greece.
The attacker has since returned to the club to undergo tests to discover the extent of the damage, but for now could be a major doubt for next weekend’s trip to Bournemouth straight after the break. Arteta‘s mind, though, will no doubt look beyond that fixture to upcoming battles with Liverpool, Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea, hoping his No.7 will not suffer a lengthy setback.
If Arsenal are to be without their star man for at least one week, football.london have analysed how the team would look without him…
Arsenal XI v Bournemouth
Goalkeeper: Raya.
This position should hand Arteta with the least trouble, provided David Raya doesn’t arrive back from international duty with any problems. The Spaniard played 90 minutes against Denmark on Saturday evening and should have one more match against Serbia on Tuesday before returning to London.
Defence: White, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori.
Many challenges have been thrown at Gabriel and William Saliba as a duo, all of which they have overcome. It would be difficult to consider dropping either for any Premier League match.
Therefore it comes to the wide defensive areas that will leave the manager with his choices. Thomas Partey started at right back before the current break but he will be needed in midfield and luckily enough Arteta has suggested Ben White will be passed fit enough for the trip to the South Coast after missing the last four games.
Jurrien Timber is another expected to be in contention having missed out against Southampton, but with Riccardo Calafiori performing so strongly since his £42m summer arrival it’s hard to see a switch made.
Midfield: Jorginho, Partey, Rice.
The availability in this area of the squad is probably where Arteta is thankful he does not have to face Liverpool immediately after the international break and has that extra week to tinker with limited options.
The elephant in the room is Odegaard’s absence, with the captain likely to be sidelined until November.
As mentioned already, Partey will be needed in this area rather than defence like last time. He stayed in England over playing for Ghana during the break as to not aggravate a knock, so hopefully will be ready in time to start as the defensive lynchpin of the trio.
Either side of him Declan Rice and Jorginho can then take the other two midfield spaces, very narrowly preventing Mikel Merino from making his first Gunners start. The summer signing is yet to make the first XI since overcoming his early-season injury, but did just manage 29 minutes for Spain against Denmark so is on the correct path.
Attack: Sterling, Havertz, Trossard.
On the surface the lack of Saka would hand Arsenal a fresh problem in front of goal, but with seven assists to top the Premier League starts at this stage of the new season it is his creative play that will be sorely missed.
Having remained with Arsenal over the break and therefore will be fit and ready to make an impact, this seems like an ideal scenario for Raheem Sterling to enter as direct replacement for his compatriot.
Kai Havertz would be the second-most integral cog in Arteta’s attack having combined with Saka for 14 goals and assists collectively in all competitions. Like Partey, he sat out of international duty this month so will hopefully be fit to play next weekend.
Taking the final spot is Leandro Trossard – that decision down to several factors amid strong options. The Belgian’s form is hard to look past, Gabriel Martinelli will have shortly arrived back from South America before the weekend so will have jet lag to contend with, and finally Gabriel Jesus is yet to match the form of his team-mates.