4 ways Mikel Arteta could replace injured Martin Odegaard

Arsenal are staring down the barrel of being without their star creative talisman and captain, Martin Odegaard, for a potentially prolonged period of time.

The 25-year-old sustained an ankle sprain on international duty, and a nervous wait now ensues regarding the severity of the issue. Timelines are being updated at a furious pace.

After hobbling off in Oslo on Monday night, Odegaard was spotted on crutches on Tuesday as he boarded a plane to return to London. As it stands, it seems very unlikely that he'll be involved in Sunday's North London Derby with Arsenal also travelling to Atalanta and Manchester City before the 23 September.

It's a crucial early-season period for the north Londoners, and the absence of Mikel Merino (shoulder) and Declan Rice (suspended for the derby) means Mikel Arteta will likely have to do something a little different to fill the potential gaping void left by his captain.

Here are a few options for the manager to consider.

1. Drop Kai Havertz into midfield

While Havertz has found a new lease of life (and some) as Arsenal's starting striker, it wasn't all bad for the German last season when he wasn't utilised as the Gunners' frontman.

Sure, he looked awkward in the role mastered by Granit Xhaka in 2022/23, but Havertz offered promise when operating off the shoulder of Gabriel Jesus in a more familiar-looking raumdeuter role. The German starred in the 4-3 win over Luton Town in December 2023 and scored a couple of weeks later in Brighton. By mid-February, Havertz was Arsenal's leading #9.

His excellent form has continued at the start of 2024/25, but Jesus' likely return from injury does give Arteta the chance to rekindle the effective dynamic the pair established for a brief period last winter.

The Spaniard could give Havertz the freedom to roam off Jesus as the third midfielder, all while deploying a double pivot of Thomas Partey and Jorginho behind him.

I fear for the transition defending, but Arsenal will still boast quality in the build-up.

2. Shift a winger infield

I don't see how Arteta can retain the same shape and dynamics on Sunday given that Arsenal are without three midfielders.

Arsenal will retain their 4-4-2 out-of-possession shape, but how can Arsenal deploy a 3-2-5/3-2-2-3 configuration with the ball if they're without both Odegaard and Rice? Arteta will be doing too much reshuffling; utilising players in sub-optimal roles.

He could perhaps shift Bukayo Saka infield as a direct replacement - remember that Brighton away central-midfield performance - with Raheem Sterling huggling the touchline down the right, but who would replace Declan Rice as the left-sided #8?

I like the idea of a basic 4-2-3-1 which may allow for positional interchange, but will be far less fluid compared to what we usually see from Arteta's Arsenal with the ball. No inverted full-back, the utilisation of a #10, and wingers holding their width. Perhaps Leandro Trossard or Saka could be deployed in a central creative position if Arteta wants to retain Havertz up top.

The boss doesn't need to overcomplicate it this weekend. If Arsenal are compact centrally and able to get up the pitch in transition, they have a great chance of beating Tottenham in N17. It was a simple ploy that did the trick in April.

3. Trust Ethan Nwaneri

If Arteta doesn't want to do much systematic tinkering, he could use Jesus up top, drop Havertz into midfield, and entrust teenager Nwaneri with Odegaard's role.

The Hale End starlet took on the captain's function in pre-season, operating from the right half-space, and particularly impressed out in the States. He's a dynamic ball carrier who boasts the requisite strength to retain possession under pressure.

There are high hopes that Nwaneri will play a role for the Gunners this season, and Odegaard's injury may well provide him with a huge opportunity but Arteta is unlikely to hand the keys over to the youngster in such a demanding role given the significance of Arsenal's upcoming fixtures.

4. An extra full-back

Arsenal certainly have plenty of full-backs available, and we could see Arteta use one of them in a midfield role. Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Riccardo Calafiori are all accustomed to performing centrally, with Zinchenko plying his trade for Ukraine in the middle of the park.

Arteta's inverters should be options if the manager opts for simplicity in Odegaard's absence.

A Jorginho/Partey pivot may frighten the duel-obsessed Spaniard, so he could opt for the rigour of Timber or aggression of the cultured Calafiori, assuming he won't miss any time with a calf injury, in a midfield position.

This is far from an ideal alternative, but it may be necessary in a one-off encounter. Block space, deny Spurs centrally, drop the wingers in, and break with a front four.

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