September 15th 2024.
The upcoming north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham has been met with yet another challenge for Mikel Arteta's side. Oleksandr Zinchenko, the Ukrainian international, has been added to the ever-growing list of injured players for the Gunners. With key players like Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, and Declan Rice already out of the picture, Zinchenko's calf injury has dealt a blow to Arsenal's midfield.
It seems that the international break has not been kind to Arsenal, with Odegaard's ankle injury being the latest addition to their already unfortunate situation. Merino, who was signed just recently, suffered a shoulder injury during his first training session with the club and will not be available until October. Rice, who received a red card in Arsenal's previous game against Brighton, is also out of the picture due to suspension.
As for Zinchenko, the former Manchester City player started in Arsenal's first game of the season against Wolves, but has since been replaced by Jurrien Timber at left-back. In the midfield, it appears that Leandro Trossard will take on a deeper role, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho by his side. Up top, Kai Havertz, who has been in excellent form, will lead the attack for the Gunners.
Arteta, when asked about the team's selection challenges, stated that there would be no excuses. He acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances that have occurred during the international break, but emphasized the need for the team to prove themselves on the field. As for the starting lineup, Arteta remained tight-lipped, stating that it was subject to change. He also praised Havertz for his adaptability and mentioned that not utilizing him would pose a problem for the team.
Despite the challenges, Arsenal has also received some positive news, with Raheem Sterling joining the team on loan from Chelsea. However, the forward was not included in the starting lineup, despite having a full week of training with his new club. Arteta admitted that he was tempted to start Sterling, but ultimately decided against it as the player had missed a significant amount of football in recent weeks. However, he reassured fans that Sterling was in a good place and would be ready to contribute to the team's success.
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