Mikel Arteta’s squad has been badly affected by injuries (Picture: Getty)
The international break has brought mixed news for Mikel Arteta on the injury front with 10 senior first team players heading back to London Colney in varying states of disrepair.
Arsenal’s quadruple pursuit ended just over a week ago when they were well beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and the Gunners aren’t back in competitive action until this weekend’s FA Cup tie at Southampton.
Quite what side Arteta will be able to select for the trip to St Mary’s remains to be seen and the picture is sure to change over the course of the coming days as Arsenal’s medical department gets a firmer idea on the state the walking wounded are in.
Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke appear almost certain to miss out with the latter seen wearing a knee brace as he walked through the mixed zone following England’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay on Friday night.
As for the rest,Arteta is unlikely to take risks with the likes of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Martin Zubimendi or either of his first-choice central defenders, espcially with a Champions League quarter-final and potentially decisive Premier League game against City on the horizon.
Even in light of the current situation, Arsenal should still be able to put out a strong XI against the promotion chasing Saints.
Goalkeeper
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After his latest Wembley nightmare, Arsenal’s cup keeper Kepa will likely be fearing he has played his last competitive game of the season.
The summer signing from Chelsea dropped the sort of clanger that has been almost totally absent from David Raya’s game since he cemented his position as the club’s No.1.
Raya is involved in his own battle tousurp Unai Simon as Spain’s first choice ahead of the World Cup and, given the backing his club understudy received after the City debacle, he will more than likely be on the bench on the south coast.
Defence
Riccardo Calafiori could come into his own in the run-in (Picture: Getty)
So important are Gabriel and William Saliba to the Arsenal cause that both are certain to be wrapped up in cotton wool for more important assignments.
The France international has been managing an ankle injury throughout the season while Gabriel’s knee saw him withdraw from the Brazil squad last week.
Even without their twin towers of defensive power, Arsenal boast some formidable options with Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera the most obvious candidates to fill the central defensive positions and maintain the left and right-footed balance Arteta craves.
Ben White, fresh from his England return, could well feature at right-back but teenager Marli Salmon, who started in the last round at Mansfield, could well be trusted again while, on the opposite flank, Myles Lewis-Skelly should get some much needed game time after he was suspended for the game at Field Mill.
Midfield
Martin Odegaard could make his return after missing the last seven games (Picture: Getty)
This is where things will get slightly tricker for Arteta, especially if Rice and Zubimendi are deemed in need of more recovery time.
Christian Norgaard should be well capable of anchoring the midfield and Arsenal will hope skipper Martin Odegaard is finally read to make a timely return.
The captain has missed the last seven games and with Eze unavailable, the creative burden will again fall on the Norway international’s shoulders.
Further forward, Kai Havertz could be asked to fill the No.10 role and rotate with Odegaard to give the midfield a bit more of a physical presence when required.
Attack
Max Dowman might be in line to start against Southampton (Picture: Getty)
Viktor Gyokeres should be heading back to Arsenal with renewed confidence after his hat-trick against Ukraine. The summer recruit from Sporting Lisbon still has one World Cup hurdle to jump, but regardless of how he gets on against Poland, he will be in line to start against Southampton.
Arsenal’s options on the flanks are somewhat limited, but Gabriel Martinelli has been a cup specialist this season, while Max Dowman may well get the nod on the right wing in light of his man of the match performance against the Stags in round five.
How Arsenal could line-up against Southampton
It could be a makeshift defence for Arsenal against Southampton (Picture: Metro)
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