Mikel Arteta will dodge tough decisions when choosing Arsenal’s side to face Brentford on Sunday.
Arsenal play Brentford away today, making Mikel Arteta’s job easier.
After a busy final month in the summer transfer window, the number of first-team players available to the Spaniard has significantly reduced since the opening day win over Crystal Palace. Nicolas Pepe, Hector Bellerin, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have all left.
These decisions could haunt Arteta and Edu in the next month. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s injury could limit Wenger’s choices against Brentford.
Thomas Partey was in full training on Friday, and Ben White is fit despite fears he wasn’t named to England’s Nations League squad because of a hip/knee injury. Both should be in contention to face the Bees.
As a result, Arteta will have to leave behind fewer players when picking a 20-man squad for a trip to West London. If he’s available, he may replace a player who played against Manchester United two weeks ago.
The club’s website lists 24 senior players, so Arteta had to choose four first-team stars to watch from home regardless of injuries.
With Mohamed Elneny a long-term absentee, Emile Smith Rowe out with a groin injury, and Reiss Nelson and Cedric Soares too fresh, Arteta has already decided who to leave out of the Brentford team.
Zinchenko may be added. The Ukraine national team ruled Arteta out for two weeks with a calf muscle injury, but he didn’t acknowledge this in his Friday press conference.
The Spaniard responded, “We’ll decide tomorrow.” “Where he was and what we did for international week doesn’t indicate we’ll do the same for the weekend. We’ll discuss it tomorrow.”
If Zinchenko is Arsenal’s fifth senior player unavailable against Brentford. Arteta can either put Matt Smith back on the bench or temporarily elevate academy superstar Lino Sousa, a natural left-back.
