Mikel Arteta has got some thinking to do with Tottenham Hotspur next up in the Premier League, with defeat in the North London derby really flipping Arsenal‘s season upside down.
A dropped two points last time out allowed the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool to create a two point lead at the top of the table.
The North London derby has an added importance in itself with bragging rights up for grabs and all form goes out the window.
Spurs have had a rather mixed season to date under Ange Postecoglou with a win, a loss and a draw to show for their efforts, so neither side is coming into this one in red hot form.
But, after Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton last time out, Arteta faces a difficult decision on how exactly he’s going to set his side up in the Englishman’s absence…
£180k-p/w Arsenal star could be dropped as Mikel Arteta’s plan for Tottenham has been revealed
Interestingly, it appears as if Mikel Arteta has his sights set on playing a couple of players out of position for the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
According to Give Me Sport, Raheem Sterling is open to being deployed at the false 9 position while the Spaniard is toying with the idea of playing Kai Havertz in midfield.
Jorginho is yet to play a minute for the Gunners this season and Mikel Merino is out for the next 6-8 weeks, so Arteta really is stuck for options.
Arteta’s plan certainly doesn’t look good for one Arsenal player in particular.
Where does this leave Gabriel Martinelli?
Gabriel Martinelli hasn’t had a very good start to the season by his standards as he’s yet to contribute in the Premier League.
This has led to Jay Bothroyd slamming Martinelli, stating that he’s living off his form from two years ago.
Mikel Arteta then dropped Martinelli, who is on £180,000 a week, for the Gunners’ last match against Brighton with Leandro Trossard taking up the position on the left-hand side.
The Belgian has already bagged a goal as a real live-wire this season and looks to be bang in form, so dropping him just isn’t an option right now.
And, with the false 9 position possibly being gifted to Sterling for the all-important clash with Tottenham, there’s nowhere for Martinelli to fit into the side with Bukayo Saka immovable on the right.
There’s no doubting Martinelli’s quality but Sterling’s form in training appears to have forced Mikel Arteta’s hand a bit, with another substitute appearance looking likely.
0 Comments