As I write this, we are waiting to hear the results of Martin Odegaard’s ankle scan. By the time you read this you might know our captain’s diagnosis.
The fact he left the pitch on Monday night in tears and travelled back to England on crutches would indicate that he will in the short term at least miss the North London Derby. The worst-case scenario would be the 25-year-old is on the sidelines for a long spell. If that’s the case, it’s a big enough blow that could be the difference in the title race.
Every club has a couple of players who can’t be replaced. You could argue that two of the first names on our team sheet will be unavailable on Sunday.
We will learn about the mentality of our young squad this weekend. Not just do they believe they can get 3 points at the Lane without their skipper, but more importantly do they trust they can finish above Man City without one of their best?
The irony being that it’s the kind of opening Smith Rowe and Vieira were waiting for. I don’t subscribe to the theory that a NLD is the place to hand Nwaneri his first Prem start. Some Gooners are over hyping the 17-year-old with zero evidence.
With Merino hurt on his first day at work it might now put the pressure on Kai Havertz to be the AM Arteta envisaged.
That was our manager’s original intention but one sole DM with 2 AM’s meant our creative midfielders were getting in each other’s way.
Not for the first time our boss washed his hands of an idea the moment it wasn’t working. Which is surprising when you consider how long the Spaniard scouted the German and earmarked him for the role as our number 10.
Therefore, you could argue Havertz has yet to be under any pressure at the Emirates. Being a makeshift striker wasn’t the reason we gave Chelsea 65 million.
The 25-year-old was almost patronised by Gooners in his first season as a Gunner. It was almost like 13 league goals was deemed acceptable just because he wasn’t terrible. In reality 13 goals in not his intended position does not warrant earning 280,000 pound a week.
What you expect for that salary is someone with the personality to not just be able to stand up in Odegaard’s absence but want that responsibility.
It’s worth noting that during the international break Germany have tried Havertz as an attacking midfielder and he got rave reviews.
He’s never going to be a clinical goal scorer, but that wasn’t what was planned for him.
Our scouts had been watching him since his days in the Bundesliga with Arteta impressed by the player’s footballing intelligence.
At the Lane in the last campaign Havertz showed that swagger, coming deep, holding up the ball, winning fouls with his trickery.
He shouldn’t be dismissed as an AM just because he and Odegaard got in each other’s way.
A big club act like a big club. Instead of cursing the loss of the Norwegian we should look at the positive.
Havertz dropping into the midfielders lets us play an extra pacey attacker. With Spurs insistence on playing a high line I would begin with Havertz behind the three quickest forwards we have.
To me Havertz is the only option to replace Odegaard?
Who would you play as our AM?
Dan
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Havertz and Zinchenko have played the right-sided AM role well for Arsenal, when they substituted Odegaard in the second half of some games
But it might be better if Zinchenko plays there, because we’ll need Havertz’s aerial ability to receive the long diagonal crosses from Saka and our right-sided AM
@,Gai, with all Zichenko skills in midfield, my worry is that he doesn’t make efforts to win ball back in midfield he can be very slow and not combertive like Odegard.
Zinchenko’s defending abilities are actually quite good for a diminutive playmaker, but I don’t think his stamina is enough for our intense high-press
Yep, Kai’s the obvious choice. We have the players to make up for his absence more forwards. Ødegaard will be missed, but Havertz will a decent job there.
I’m afraid that anyone who thinks Havertz is the answer to replacing Odegaard, are in for a rude awakening on Sunday.
If he plays in midfield, I fear for Arsenal.
I agree, imo it’s a recipe for disaster.
The MRI is reportedly not showing any fracture of the ankle. He’ll still miss time but at least some good news at last.
Yet you would Havertz up front and expect us to win the title ?
I agree , I never would have brought him but considering our current options who else can play there ?
Dan, I really wish you would stop putting words in my mouth.
No I was asking
Do you think we win title with him up front ?
And who would you play instead of Odegarrd?
No Dan, you did not. If you had simply asked that question even with it being off topic I likely would have responded in addition to providing one of the many alternatives to playing Havertz as Odegaard’s replacement. Now, I don’t care what you’re asking.
Okay lol
You know this symbol….?
That implies there’s a question being asked lol
All of a bit too deep for me mate
Let me spell it out for you. “Yet you would Havertz up front and expect us to win the title ?” That is a statement that I expect Havertz up front would win the title and you have no basis for making such a statement since I’ve never indicated an expectation for any particular club to win the title. Opinion of likelihood, yes, expectation, no. The point is it was putting words in my mouth regardless of whether I might actually believe such a thing. a “?” symbol alone does not make it a question. All from my original very small and easily read opinion, not good.
No mate
A question mark means a question lol
Why don’t you answer the question?
Do you think we can win title with Havertz up front and who would you replace Odegarrd with ?
Remember ? Means a question.
I have a sense you won’t commit to an opinion
Your last sentence was the only thing you’ve gotten right so far.
?
As the last sentence was my conclusion that would make sense lol
If he plays as a striker I fear for Arsenal lol.
I think if Kai plays in the AM role, it would be interesting to see what Arteta does upfront. I think if he plays Trossard it will show how little faith he has in Jesus.
“…faith in Jesus”😇.
I wish I could claim I did that on purpose:)
Freudian slip😆.
Jax,
I like it, I nearly fell of my chair.
Jax, you a fan of Depeche Mode by any chance ?
No HD, didn’t think much of that era for music.
Well, Dan, I agree Havertz is not a Haaland level striker, far from it, but he isn’t half as bad as you are suggesting. Just look at the numbers, and since 2024, he has been performing better than other strikers in the league other than Haaland. That at least makes him a really good Striker? Certainly not a makeshift striker.
But I agree with your assessment on Havertz’s qualities will shine even more playing behind a true striker, in the number 10 role. And we could actually play 4-2-3-1, with Havertz as the 10, saka, martinelli as wide options, and Trossard, Jesus as the striker. Jorginho and Partey playing as double pivot. I think that’s a viable option.
Of course mate but we are talking about a level now of getting over the line and winning titles
Front four – Havertz,Martinelli saka and Sterling
Jorginho and party behind .
All this talk of an injury crisis ,the only player who would started but is injured is Odegaard ,been blown overboard because of rices red card .
Merino and calafiori are nailed on starters .
Are not nailed on starters .
I think Arteta and co have had a good look at Nwaneri. Noone here talks about him. but I understand Havertz and G Jesus adapting .
I talk about Nwaneri all the time. I think he is more than ready to step up. Not sure about Myles, but Ethan is ready. We will definitely see him in the second half against Spurs.
Every Arsenal “news” are mostly overhyped scenarios blown out of proportions for whatever reasons.
Injury Crisis? If Rice wasn’t red carded, we wouldn’t be talking about this “crisis”. We have a bunch of really versatile players; we no longer have a lineup of Mustafi and Sokratis guys. We don’t have the likes of Ozil as well, who was a great player playing in his zone, but not versatile enough to cover many duties.
Our midfield options: Partey, Jorgi, Timber, Zinchenko Trossard, Havertz, Myles, Ethan. Even Calafiori and Ben White can play in the midfield comfortably. It’s all about finding the right solution, the options are there.