Arsenal faces a critical midfield dilemma as they prepare for the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.
Declan Rice remains suspended following a red card in their 1-1 draw with Brighton. His absence creates a significant void in the midfield, particularly in defensive stability.
Compounding the issue, Mikel Merino, Arsenal’s recent signing from Real Sociedad, is sidelined with an injury.
Merino was expected to bring creativity and depth to the squad, but his unavailability forces Mikel Arteta to explore other options.
With the recent departure of midfielders during the transfer window, the squad’s depth is thinner than ideal.
So, who will Arteta consider?
Arteta addressed the situation in his post-Brighton press conference published on the club’s official website, stating, “This is what happens. We have other players that can fulfill and we can give an opportunity to someone else.”
The most likely candidates are Thomas Partey and Jorginho. Partey, while experienced, has had his struggles with consistency and fitness.
Jorginho, a more reliable option, brings experience from his time at Chelsea and with Italy. However, neither player is a perfect replacement for Rice’s defensive capabilities.
Arteta might also give Oleksandr Zinchenko an opportunity, although the midfielder is relatively untested in such high-stakes matches.
Another possibility is a tactical reshuffle, perhaps adjusting the formation to compensate for the lack of key players, which would mean going extremely defensive.
The North London derby is always an intense and challenging match. With Arsenal’s midfield options limited, the game against Tottenham will surely test Arteta’s ability to adapt and find solutions under pressure.
It will be interesting to see how their team copes with these setbacks and whether they can secure a positive result against their fierce rivals.
