A season-defining spell draws Arsenal in the absence of their inevitable strength down the right flank.
The Gunners have endured the odd week without their talismanic Hale End graduate, but a torn hamstring means Bukayo Saka is set for a sustained period on the sidelines.
Saka has operated as a one-man attack for an occasionally top-heavy Arsenal side this term, and their current deficit in the Premier League title race means Mikel Arteta has little time to stumble upon an alternative optimal in the absence of his superstar end.
The north Londoners remain unbeaten after the November international break, but there has yet to be any semblance of unwavering positive momentum at the Emirates. Even so, arsenal he is expected to finish the year on a high and enter 2025 well into title contention.
Here’s how the Gunners could line up for the visit of Ipswich on Friday night.
GK: David Raya – The Spaniard was forced into the action far more than Arteta would have liked at the weekend, but Raya’s shot-stopping ability eventually allowed the Gunners to cruise through.
RB: Jurrien Timber – The boss has to worry about his workload, but there are few right-back alternatives while Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are absent.
CB: William Saliba – Saliba fell below his usually commanding level at the weekend, so he will be aiming to bounce back on Friday night. The return of Liam Delap gives the Frenchman something to consider.
CB: Gabriel – Saka’s absence will surely hurt Gabriel’s set piece output given the quality of the corner inside the wing. Who will fill this void?
LB: Riccardo Calafiori – Tough on teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly, but Calafiori is a key cog in Arteta’s framework and the Spaniard should not hesitate to pick him up in his XI after he appeared off the bench at Selhurst Park.
CM: Declan Rice – Rice will float between the #6 and #8 roles, and this looks like a game to drop at a deeper position after his excellent cameo on Saturday. The Gunners certainly don’t need Rice i a holding midfielder against Ipswich.
CM: Mikel Merino – With Rice filling the starting spot, there could be a retreat from Merino, who has been flattered to cheat since joining the club, but certainly has some value.
CM: Martin Odegaard – It’s time for the pattern to shine. Saka took over when Odegaard was out for two months in the autumn, and now the Nordic creator has to really prove your worth.
RW: Gabriel Martinelli – Arteta hinted that Martinelli will operate as the main alternative in Saka’s absence after playing on the right at the weekend. Perhaps this increased responsibility will be the result of the Brazilian, who has been impressed in simple bursts this term.
ST: Kai Havertz – havertz he just doesn’t work as a midfielder and Arteta will likely move him back to a centre-forward position amid the Gunners’ attacking reshuffle. The German did return aa Premier League balance of saturday
LW: Gabriel Jesus – It is the season for Jesus to shine, with justice. After terrorizing Crystal Palace last week, Jesus must now prove that his prolific run of starts wasn’t just down to a strange hatred of the south London club.
