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 compelled off with what Arteta described as a “significant” hamstring drawback, through The Athletic. Odegaard, in the meantime, departed with a shoulder challenge.
With Liverpool up subsequent, the timing might hardly be worse. Each gamers will endure scans this week, however there are fears Arsenal might be with out two of its most influential figures for a chronic spell.
The double setback compounds an already stretched squad. Kai Havertz stays out with a knee harm, Gabriel Jesus is recovering from an ACL drawback and defenders Ben White and Christian Norgaard are additionally sidelined.
For a aspect intent on difficult Liverpool for the Premier League crown after back-to-back wins, together with a 1–0 victory on the highway at Manchester United, the state of affairs 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 important. The England worldwide brings creativity and flexibility whereas being able to working each centrally and broad.
Arteta revealed Eze personally reached out to the membership to push via the transfer, a dedication that helped Arsenal beat Tottenham to his signature.
Even with Eze secured, Arsenal will not be completed. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has emerged as a potential target, 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 predicted to shoulder a lot of the inventive 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 will probably be severely examined if their talismanic broad 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 compelled one high-profile signing, whereas extra setbacks might compel additional enterprise.
Arsenal has the assets and ambition. The problem now’s to make sure that the appropriate reinforcements arrive in time to maintain a title bid alive.
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