3 fringe players to come in during Arsenal’s difficult October run

Despite the loss against Manchester United, Arsenal have started the season well. With only one loss on the board, fans and players alike are excited about what they could achieve by the end of the campaign.

Football has gotten increasingly congested over the past few years and the mid-season World Cup will not do any favours to the well-being of players. In October, Arsenal will play nine games. Even for the deepest squad, that would be a difficult run.

Mikel Arteta will have to rotate effectively, ensuring that form remains consistent while injuries are avoided. Fortunately for the manager, a bench stronger than that of last year makes this possible.

3 fringe players to come in during Arsenal’s difficult October run

Here are three current fringe players that will get more minutes during the difficult October run and perhaps even beyond.

3. Kieran Tierney

When he’s fit and firing, Kieran Tierney is one of the best defenders at the club. Although his surging runs forward and pinpoint crosses have always caught the eye, his ability to track runners and stay with even the best of dribblers makes him a crucial member of the squad.

Recently, however, his place in the squad has been under fire. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s impressive performances and the Scot’s injury troubles have led to him being relegated to the bench. Arteta still rates Tierney but it is clear that he views the left-back position as one defined by positional fluidity, technical quality and tactical flexibility.

Zinchenko interchanges with Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli frequently, while offering comfort on the ball. This comes with an increased vulnerability in transition as the summer arrival lacks the pace and defensive nous that Tierney provides. Thus far, Arteta seems to accept this tradeoff with Zinchenko starting the majority of the Premier League games.

The October run may help Tierney win back his spot. The Ukrainian has had an injury already this season and concerns about overplaying him, especially in such a crucial period, may result in Tierney getting more minutes in the league.

While the question of how well Tierney can adapt to the new demands of the left-back role remains to be answered, he will certainly have a shot at showing his quality once again. The signs have been positive in Arsenal’s last two outings.

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