Injuries happen. It is part of the course of a season and something all clubs have to deal with.
Last season, Kevin de Bruyne picked up an injury in the opening game of the season. He was not seen again in a Manchester City shirt until January. Erling Haaland also missed a chunk of the season, absent for a month.
I do wonder if we would have got so close to pipping Manchester City to the title if they did not suffer injuries to their two most important players.
City averaged 2.05 points per game during the extended period de Bruyne was injury. That rose to 2.6 ppg when during the second half of the season. Over a 38 game season, that is the difference between 77 points and 100 points.
What is frustrating though is the injuries we have suffered have not been when players are representing The Arsenal, but when they are representing their country.
I have always been frustrated with this early international break.
Clubs diligently plan pre-season, ensuring players fitness is ramped up in an effort to avoid injury before the season has started. And then 3 games in players go off to play for their countries. And in 4 weeks time, there will be another international break. And 4 weeks after that another!
By the time players return from the final international break of the year, we would have played just 11 league games. Some players would have played 6 times for their country in that period.
It just feels imbalanced that clubs pay the wages, but in the opening gambits of a season, only get their players for 67% of the campaign.
And the solution is not to move games to the 2nd half of the season. This would be even more disruptive. The solution is less international games. what really is the point of the Nations League and England playing the likes of Finland, Greece and the Republic of Ireland in glorified friendlies?
Considering we are also seeing the expansion of the Champions League, we are heading towards a collision course between FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League and Football League. Something will have to give. That might be an increase in clubs pulling players out with minor injuries.
Phil Foden was pulled out of the England squad by Manchester City. Cole Palmer was withdrawn by Chelsea. My bet is both will play this weekend. Maybe we just need to start playing the game?
Martin Odegaard picked up an ankle sprain against Austria. It is not yet known how long he will be out for. Riccardo Calafiori also hobbled off for Italy.
This makes our squad look a little thin bare ahead of the Tottenham game – the suspended Declan Rice is joined by injuries Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney on the sidelines.
The headache for Arteta is the Rice, Merino and Odegaard would likely have been his first-choice midfield against Spurs. All 3 are out.
The absentees will probably see Arteta move from his favoured 4141 formation to 4231 with Jorginho coming in alongside Thomas Partey. He might then spring a surprise in the forward line.
Tottenham are very susceptible to the quickly played long ball over the middle. So Jorginho playing as a quarter back might be advantageous. To exploit Tottenham’s high line we then need pace – an attribute Kai Haverts is not blessed with.
Arteta might then opt for Gabriel Martinelli down the middle, with Havertz in the “10” role behind him. Havertz can then be his influential self in aerial duels, whilst also providing the hold up play that Maritnelli lacks, whilst Gabi dovetails nicely with his pace in behind. The old “big man small man” routine.
I would then expect to see Raheem Sterling provide extra pace coming in from the left. He is the sort of player that could really exploit Tottenham’s lack of defensive full backs. Sterling and Martinelli running through onto Jorginho’s long passes could be a drea. and then of course we will see Bukayo Saka on the right.
This formation will give us solid foundations with our back 4 and then defensive duo in-front of them. And then the ability to spring a quick attack from deep with the pace up top.
Hopefully, Odegaard is not out too long. Knowing our luck it will be a 4-week injury and he will be fit just in time to represent Norway at the next international break.
Football is a squad game, and you have to deal with injuries. We have the players to do it, and the midfield and forward line we put out this weekend will be quality and filled with internationals. We can have no excuses.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 