Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are preparing for Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham (Picture: Getty)
Emmanuel Petit has told Mikel Arteta to rely on the experience of Jorginho and Thomas Partey in the absence of two key players against Tottenham on Sunday.
The Gunners are almost certain to be without injured captain Martin Odegaard having already lost Declan Rice through suspension.
Summer signing Mikel Merino, meanwhile, won’t be available until late October at the earliest after he suffered a freak shoulder injury in training a fortnight ago.
Arteta has the option of blooding teenager Ethan Nwaneri, who impressed during pre-season, but Petit believes the hostility of a north London derby calls for wise old heads.
‘Of course, Arsenal are going to miss him against Spurs,’ Petit told topoffshoresportsbooks.com.
Rice was bewildered by the decision (Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Martin Odegaard suffered an ankle injury during Norway’s win over Austria (Picture: Getty)
‘Declan Rice is a Londoner. He was playing for West Ham, so he knows how important the derbies are in London.
‘It’s a massive game. He will be gutted that he can’t be involved. Last season, when Arsenal won at Spurs, he was magnificent on the pitch.
‘There will be midfield changes given Rice and Odegaard’s absences, and Merino’s unavailability. I think Arteta will put Jorginho in as the holding midfielder, possibly with Partey in there alongside him.
‘One of those two will definitely play, it depends how he wants to approach the game.
‘Havertz can drop into the midfield if he plays one of the holders, and then that could open up a place for Trossard up front. With Merino, Odegaard and Jesus injured, his options are a bit limited.’
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