Selection decisions for Atalanta + Odegaard injury update

Morning.

We’re in Champions League action this evening, as we take on last season’s Europa League winners Atalanta. The new convoluted format has been a topic of discussion, it’s a Super League by proxy, but the idea that we’re still playing on a Thursday – especially with a big game on Sunday – is a bit of a pain.

For tonight, I think Mikel Arteta has a couple of decisions to make about his starting line-up. I worry about asking too much of Jurrien Timber after he spent last season on the sidelines with an ACL injury. He’s already got four games under his belt so far, plus some international duty too, and with Man City on the horizon, I’d be inclined to be cautious with him for this one.

The options aren’t bad, to be fair. Riccardo Calafiori is back in the fold, and giving him his first start back in Italy makes some sense – assuming he’s fit enough to do that. There’s also Jakub Kiwior who would present an unexciting but perfectly serviceable deputy. You can always bring Timber on later if you needed but I’d just be a bit concerned about starting him tonight after 90 gruelling minutes in the derby, and then expecting him to be in top shape for Sunday.

In midfield, Declan Rice will come back in, meaning one of Jorginho or Thomas Partey will likely sit out. Again, you wonder if Sunday comes into the equation. Partey is Arteta’s go-to for that position as recent selection decisions have shown, but can those legs – which clearly aren’t what they used to be – do three starts in a week? Maybe this is one for Jorginho to start, the question then is who fills the Odegaard role if that’s the way we set up. It could be a similar system to the one we deployed at White Hart Lane.

Without taking anything for granted, because Atalanta are a good side who can cause anyone problems on their best day, I feel that games like this are ones which Arteta should be thinking about using the full depth of his squad. If he was inclined to ‘rest’ Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, he can do so with the comfort blanket of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling being at his disposal. Not bad players to have, and with all due respect to Reiss Nelson etc, the drop off isn’t the same as it was if he wanted to do it last season.

I think how we manage our squad will play a big part in whether or not this season is a success or not. We already have a litany of injuries, and while I think that’s something we fret about as fans more than managers or players do, having quality options allows you to mitigate some of the risk. I suspect at least one of Saka/Martinelli will start, but I wouldn’t be averse to seeing alternatives. We have them on the bench if we need them, after all.

Speaking ahead of the game, Arteta was asked if he was going to rotate, and played down the idea, saying:

No we are in September so we have to put the players that we believe are the best to win tomorrow. That’s the most important and only thing for us.

And on tonight’s opposition:

It’s very difficult to play against them. They have a particular playing style which you see week-in, week-out and it’s very challenging for opponents coming up against them. In the last two seasons, the Premier League has changed a lot, you’ve got a lot of squads that are doing similar things to them and we need to be prepared ahead of tomorrow.

So, it will be a tricky night. Atalanta won’t give us a moment’s peace but a high risk, high reward system can be open to exploitation. Let’s hope we can do that. For a bit more about them and our potential team selection, we have a preview podcast for you on Patreon, and you can join us later for live blog coverage, and all the post-game stuff on Arseblog News.

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The other newsworthy snippet from the press conference was an update on Martin Odegaard. Things have been kept pretty quiet up until now, but the manager confirmed the injury was ‘significant’, saying:

After everything was scanned, they showed that there was some damage, especially in one of the ligaments in the ankle so we’re going to miss him. I don’t want to put a time-frame because I am not a doctor but it is something quite significant so we’re going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months but let’s see.

It’s not at all unexpected, to be honest, but it’s still a real kicker to have the confirmation. All we can do is hope his return is on the good side of things, and that in the meantime – just like we saw on Sunday – his teammates pick up the slack and help us win games in his absence. He’s the kind of player any team would miss, but there’s nothing you can do other than knuckle down and try and cope as best you can.

Arteta continued:

We have to show that. He’s our captain – he’s one of our biggest players. He’s been one of the most consistent players in the last two or three seasons. Our identity is very related to his way of playing and his way of behaving. We’re going to have to deal with it, and that’s a great test for the team as well – how capable we are to show maybe a different face. The fact is we have other players and other options that can be very effective.

I really think that’s the only public message he can send, whatever he might think about it privately, and tonight will be another test without the captain. My mind went to last season’s game against Porto where it was decided by a moment that probably only Odegaard could have produced, but that’s not the only kind of moment you can have, and let’s hope others step-up until such time as he’s fit again.

Right, let’s leave it there for now. I’ll catch you later for the game. Come on you reds!

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