from ESPN:
Ahead of the North London derby on Sunday, all eyes are on Arsenal and how they will cope without their standout playmaker. The Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard has been instrumental in the team’s recent success, providing creativity and vision in the attacking third. His absence due to injury leaves a gaping hole in Arsenal’s midfield against their fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The big question now is how manager Mikel Arteta will choose to replace Odegaard in the starting lineup. Many fans are speculating whether Smith Rowe will step up to fill the void left by the talented Norwegian. Arteta has a number of options at his disposal, including moving Saka into a more central role or bringing in veteran midfielder Elneny to provide some stability in the middle of the park.
In a recent interview, Arteta remained tight-lipped about his plans for the derby, but he did acknowledge the importance of finding a suitable replacement for Odegaard. He said, “Martin has been a crucial player for us this season, so it’s a blow to lose him for such an important match. However, I have full confidence in the squad and I know that whoever steps in will give their all for the team.”
Meanwhile, former Arsenal player Paul Merson weighed in on the debate, suggesting that Arteta should opt for a more attacking approach to make up for Odegaard’s absence. He said, “Arsenal need to be bold against Tottenham and take the game to them. They can’t afford to sit back and let Spurs dictate the tempo. I would like to see Arteta go with an attacking lineup to put pressure on Tottenham from the start.”
As the countdown to the North London derby continues, all eyes will be on Arsenal and how they plan to replace Odegaard against their bitter rivals. The stakes are high, and the outcome of this match could have a significant impact on both teams’ ambitions for the rest of the season. Arteta will need to make some tough decisions, but if Arsenal are to come out on top, they will need to find a way to fill the void left by their missing maestro.