Arsenal’s emphatic 5–0 win over Leeds on Saturday ought to have underlined its title credentials. As a substitute, it left Mikel Arteta grappling with an early-season disaster after Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard each limped off injured.
Saka, who missed 4 months final season, was pressured off with what Arteta described as a “vital” hamstring drawback, through The Athletic. Odegaard, in the meantime, departed with a shoulder difficulty.
With Liverpool up subsequent, the timing might hardly be worse. Each gamers will endure scans this week, however there are fears Arsenal may very well be with out two of its most influential figures for a protracted spell.
The double setback compounds an already stretched squad. Kai Havertz stays out with a knee damage, Gabriel Jesus is recovering from an ACL drawback and defenders Ben White and Christian Norgaard are additionally sidelined.
For a facet intent on difficult Liverpool for the Premier League crown after back-to-back wins, together with a 1–0 victory on the street at Manchester United, the scenario is changing into more and more precarious.
That’s the reason the £60M ($81.1M) signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, rising to £67.5M ($91.2M) with add-ons, is so vital. The England worldwide brings creativity and flexibility whereas being able to working each centrally and vast.
Arteta revealed Eze personally reached out to the membership to push via the transfer, a willpower that helped Arsenal beat Tottenham to his signature.
Even with Eze secured, Arsenal is probably not completed. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has emerged as a possible goal, with the 23-year-old impressing final season by registering 14 targets and 16 assists. A transfer this summer time seems unlikely, however the Gunners are intently monitoring his progress with a long-term view.
For now, Eze is anticipated to shoulder a lot of the artistic duty, with additional assist from Noni Madueke, Leandro Trossard, teenager Ethan Nwaneri and 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman.
Massive-money striker Viktor Gyokeres leads the road, however Arsenal’s depth might be severely examined if their talismanic vast man and captain stay unavailable.
The dilemma for Arteta and sporting director Edu is whether or not to behave once more earlier than the switch window closes. Accidents have already pressured one high-profile signing, whereas extra setbacks might compel additional enterprise.
Arsenal has the assets and ambition. The problem now could be to make sure that the best reinforcements arrive in time to maintain a title bid alive.
