Three ways Arsenal could line up without Martin Odegaard after injury setback | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta facing midfield reshuffle with Arsenal captain set for spell out with knee ligament damage

Odegaard sustained an injury against West Ham on Saturday

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Arsenal are waiting to learn the full extent of the knee injury sustained by Martin Odegaard against West Ham.

Arsenal confirmed on Sunday that their captain has suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee and he has withdrawn from the Norway squad.

The Gunners are yet to discover how long Odegaard will be out for, but his absence would leave Mikel Arteta with a decision to make as to who replaces him in midfield.

Arsenal are waiting to learn how long Odegaard will be sidelined

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Move Eze into a central role

This is the most likely solution for Arteta, who has already used Eberechi Eze as a No8 since his summer move from Crystal Palace.

Eze was signed because he is a versatile player who can play out wide or centrally, but it was expected he would break into the Arsenal team on the left flank.

The 27-year-old made his debut there, however he has since been used through the middle and even started there on Saturday alongside Odegaard.

Eze played as a left No8 but when Odegaard went off he switched to become the right No8, with Declan Rice pushed forward alongside him.

Eberechi Eze is set for greater responsibility while Odegaard is out

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Martin Zubimendi was then brought on for Odegaard to play at the base of the midfield and Arsenal went on to dominate possession.

Eze prefers to play on the left side of midfield, which is where he was used by Palace, but he did well on the right by combining with Bukayo Saka.

Possible XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Turn to Nwaneri

If Arteta is looking for a like-for-like replacement for Odegaard, then Ethan Nwaneri is the player that most fits the bill.

The 18-year-old is, like Odegaard, a left-footed playmaker and has impressed when given the chance to play as a right No8.

When Odegaard injured his knee in the first home Premier League game of the season, Arteta turned to Nwaneri.

He caught the eye on that day and helped Arsenal run out 5-0 winners against Leeds.

Ethan Nwaneri will hope for more opportunities while Odegaard is sidelined

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Nwaneri has found minutes hard to come by since then, though, and he has started just once this season.

He was given the nod for the 2-0 win over Port Vale in the third round of the Carabao Cup last month, starting alongside Eze as one of two No8s.

Eze’s experience gives him the edge of Nwaneri, but stylistic the teenager may suit what Arteta wants from that position.

Possible XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Nwaneri, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze

Rekindle the Rice-Merino partnership

Odegaard missed four games earlier this season with his shoulder injury and, for three of those matches, Mikel Merino was the man chosen to replace him in the team.

Merino was played alongside Rice as one of two No8s, with Zubimendi sat behind them.

The combination proved effective away at Athletic Bilbao - where Arsenal won 2-0 - but it struggled in other games.

Mikel Arteta could favour Mikel Merino and Declan Rice in certain games

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Arteta was criticised for lining up like that against Manchester City at home, with the Gunners going on to claim a 1-1 draw.

There is an argument that Merino and Rice as two No8s means Arsenal’s midfield lacks creativity, even if defensively it is strengthened by such a pairing.

That is why Arteta may prefer to go with a trio that includes one of Eze or Nwaneri.

There will, however, undoubtedly be games where the Arsenal boss favours Merino as he remains an important part of this squad and someone Arteta has great faith in.

Possible XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Merino, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze