Another headache for Arteta (Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Oleksandr Zinchenko has become the latest Arsenal player to be ruled out of the north London derby against Tottenham with an injury.
The Gunners are missing key players in midfield with Martin Odegaard sidelined with an ankle injury suffered on international duty with Norway this week.
New signing Mikel Merino is also unavailable with a shoulder injury suffered in his very first training session sidelining him until October.
Declan Rice also misses out with the England international suspended as a result of the red card shown in the 1-1 draw with Brighton before the international break.
Arsenal are also without Zinchenko with the club confirming ahead of kick off the Ukraine international has a calf injury.
The former Manchester City star started Arsenal’s opening game of the season against Wolves but Jurrien Timber has since taking his place in the side at left-back.
In midfield, Mikel Arteta’s team sheet would suggest Leandro Trossard takes up a deeper midfield role with Thomas Partey and Jorginho with Kai Havertz starting the season in superb form up top.
Zinchenko is Arsenal’s latest injury casualty (Picture: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Discussing Arsenal’s selection problems ahead of kick-off, Arteta said: ‘No excuses.
‘That’s the context of football. Unfortunately these things happened in the international break, but we have to prove a point.
‘You will see [how the team lines up]. Kai Havertz has done really well. He’s had to adapt a little bit, if we don’t, we have a problem.’
Sterling is among the subs (Picture: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Raheem Sterling, who joined the Gunners on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day, missed out on a place in the starting XI despite having a full week of training with his new club under his belt.
Arteta admitted he was tempted to throw the former Manchester City star straight into the side but ultimately felt he wasn’t ready to start.
‘When you have player like this, you are always tempted [to throw them straight in],’ he added.’ Arteta said.
‘But obviously he’s missed quite a lot of football in recent weeks, but he’s in a good place.’
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