No loss is felt more than that of a captain. A 2-0 win against West Ham United that put Arsenal right back at the top of the Premier League. The joy of victory became short by the fact that Martin Odegaard left off in the first half with a brace on his left knee. The further tests confirmed an injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL). The club also thought their skipper will be staying in sidelines for a period of around six weeks, and ruled out until after November’s international break. This absence leaves an interesting question sharply in the spotlight. That who is able to step into the creative role of the Norwegian playmaker?
The Costly Victory
The recovery period is of six weeks where Ødegaard will not play at least in seven very tightly scheduled matches. This is the projection of what can happen. Among these matches are the derby with Fulham, games against Crystal Palace, and Burnley. Moreover, some important Champions League matches like Atlético Madrid and Slavia Prague and a Carabao Cup game with Brighton. The November 23rd North London Derby against Tottenham is now the centre of attraction as a possible return date.
The Three-Headed Replacement Dilemma
Manager Mikel Arteta has a tactical conundrum to solve. There are three main options in the contention to replace him in Arsenal’s advanced midfield position, each with a different profile.
Eberechi Eze: The Natural Successor – The summer signing from Crystal Palace seems to be the simplest answer. Eze has already played as a creative midfield player and was even playing alongside Odegaard despite being in injury. He is a potent and direct forward, able to score and can offer goal threat. This is exactly the situation that many fans are hoping for him to contract. However, he is still a new addition to Arteta’s system. His creative output in terms of chance creation will be an area he can improve upon.
Ethan Nwaneri: The Like-for-Like Prospect. If Arteta is searching for a player with the closest profile to that of Odegaard’s, then the 18-year-old academy pod must be the one.. A left-footed playmaker with remarkable vision and passing range. Ethan Nwaneri is generally regarded as a central midfielder by nature. Moreover, he has already made an impressive mark in the first team with his limited appearances. His worst downfall is his lack of experience, having been a substitute non-playing role for most of the season. Some fans claim that this is the time he can show that he is the permanent successor to Odegaard.
Mikel Merino: The Solid & Versatile Option. Arteta has already looked to the Spanish international earlier this season when he was out with shoulder injury. Merino is a sports wool with solid defense, physicality and versatility. Arsenal’s midfield of Zubimedi, Rice, and Merino adds strength to the defense but may compromise creativity in final third. This style can be of various use in certain more difficult fixtures where control is more important than pure invention.
Author’s Opinion
This injury window poses an enormous challenge of Arsenal’s midfield and Arteta’s management. The question isn’t just about the best player, but which profile works best against different teams. Will he risk Eze’s flair, develop Nwaneri’s talent, or be safe and go with Merino?
While the fans continue to have their own debates, the coming weeks will prove to be very crucial. The way Arteta is dealing with this situation without his captain will significantly impact the determination of whether Arsenal can take their excellent early-season form through different competitions for a longer period of time.
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