Communicate to your folks about the previous few months and you will usually be met with post-holiday melancholy and vacation blues. You could even be met with a evaluate of that dreaded Euro 2024 marketing campaign for England. Attempt as they may, Arsenal‘s Bukayo Saka, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Actual Madrid’s Jude Bellingham couldn’t drag the Three Lions throughout the road within the remaining in opposition to Spain.

Gunners hero Saka did no less than get redemption for that spot-kick miss in 2021, scoring an important purpose in opposition to the Swiss after which bagging within the shoot-out too. Mikel Arteta little question may have had a wry smile on his face.

Nevertheless, we’re completed with worldwide soccer now. As Andy mentioned in Toy Story, we do not need to play with you anymore. The Premier League is again and Arsenal are unbeaten.

However wait, what’s that? It is the horrible screech of but extra worldwide soccer. Lee Carsley’s first match as England supervisor was little question intriguing, and the Gunners’ very personal Declan Rice scored, however come on, let’s put all of that on maintain for now.

There aren’t many supporters of worldwide soccer so quickly into a brand new marketing campaign and that is now been hammered dwelling following an enormous damage blow forward of the worldwide blow.

Martin Odegaard’s damage on worldwide responsibility

With Rice already out of this coming weekend’s north London derby, Arsenal knew they have been going to must make some adjustments to their midfield.

Mikel Merino’s shoulder damage signifies that he will not be seen till October, cruelly dominated out following his very first coaching session with the membership.

There are additionally some doubts surrounding Riccardo Calafiori too who has been despatched again to London following a problem he sustained on responsibility with Italy.

Nevertheless, the most important blow lies with Martin Odegaard, Arsenal and Norway’s captain. Because the Scandinavian nation defeated Austria 2-1 on Monday night, the attacking midfielder limped off the sector with a nasty wanting ankle damage.

The prognosis is that the 25-year-old has suffered a small sprain and now faces a race in opposition to time to make the match with Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.

Talking after the sport, Norway crew physician Ola Sand acknowledged: “He acquired a small ankle sprain. We are going to see, possibly we use ultrasound to take a look at it. If we’re uncertain, there will probably be an MRI tomorrow [Tuesday].”

How Arsenal can overcome Odegaard’s damage

In a traditional set of circumstances then Arsenal probably would have handed a debut to Merino on this scenario. Nevertheless, with the Spaniard, Rice and Odegaard probably lacking, it leaves an enormous gap in Arteta’s midfield.

One possibility may very well be to maneuver Kai Havertz again into a task behind the striker with Jorginho and Thomas Partey sitting.

The German was chosen in that position for Germany as they defeated Hungary 5-0 over the course of the present break. Havertz scored from the penalty spot and induced all types of havoc, successful mentioned penalty, finishing 92% of his passes and producing 5 photographs. It is a legitimate answer for Arteta to take.

But, if he needs to maintain the German up prime and play with a extra defensive-looking midfield on Sunday, he may transfer Jurrien Timber into the centre of the park.

Timber, who has solely performed in midfield twice all through his profession thus far, definitely has the attributes to function there on a extra common foundation.

He arrived on the membership primarily as a centre-back however has been seen extra as an inverted full-back (instance under) by Arteta, notably that includes in that position for his first two begins of 2024/25. The Dutchman has thrived too, providing one other physique within the centre of the pitch and progressing play brilliantly.

So, why may he thrive extra centrally? Effectively, with the assistance of analyst Ben Mattinson, who labelled him “elite”, now we have the reply.

Taking to social media, he wrote: “A complete soccer like Timber is able to enjoying there and including physicality in floor duels and ball development by way of carrying or line-breakers.”

A have a look at his warmth map for the season thus far and the numbers complement this imaginative and prescient. As you’ll be able to see under, he does not hug the touchline by any means and is already enjoying most of his soccer (in possession) in central areas. Remarkably, for a left full-back, he is even showing fairly frequently on the sting of the opposition’s penalty space.

So, on that proof, he should not have an excessive amount of hassle adapting to a task within the centre of the sector. The numbers recommend so too.

Knowledge is slim on the bottom for final season contemplating Timber solely performed one match but when we assess his 2022/23 numbers from centre-back within the Champions League, we are able to construct a stronger case.

The 23-year-old ranked inside the highest 4% of positionally comparable gamers in Europe’s elite competitors for cross success fee per 90 minutes, in addition to among the many greatest 12% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, illuminating the aforementioned skillset that Mattinson outlined.

So, whereas it is definitely not an excellent situation for Arsenal, Timber may nicely be a short-term answer amongst the entire chaos in Arteta’s midfield.