BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal’s MASSIVE Line-up Shakeup! Sterling & Nwaner START – 8 Changes for the Clash Against Atalanta!

Arsenal are currently grappling with a significant injury situation, with several key players sidelined. In their recent 1-0 victory against Tottenham in the North London Derby, they were without Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mikel Merino, and Riccardo Calafiori. Despite these absences, the team secured the win, much to the delight of manager Mikel Arteta.

After the game, Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of playing without so many regulars but praised his team’s resilience. He noted, “We had to adjust our plans based on the available players, but I loved the team’s response. As we got the news of each absence, the players became more determined. It’s a testament to everyone at the club for stepping up.” Arteta emphasized that the squad embraced the challenge, showing great spirit in securing the victory.

However, the challenges continue for Arsenal. They face a crucial Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday, a match that could have a huge impact on the title race. But before that, they travel to face Atalanta, the Europa League champions, in their opening Champions League fixture. Although Arsenal are considered favorites, Atalanta’s victories over teams like Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen last season prove they can upset stronger sides.

Arteta will have to tackle these matches with a weakened squad. On the plus side, Declan Rice is back after serving a suspension that saw him miss the derby, which should allow Arsenal to revert to their preferred 4-3-3 formation, rather than the 4-2-2-2 they used against Spurs.

There are still doubts about the availability of Martin Odegaard for the Atalanta game, as Arteta has said his status will be assessed closer to the match. Riccardo Calafiori, recovering from a calf injury, is also hoping to return soon, though his availability remains unclear.

Additionally, Oleksandr Zinchenko missed the Tottenham game with a calf injury, while Tierney, Tomiyasu, and Merino are all long-term absentees, ruling them out of both the Atalanta and Manchester City fixtures. To add to the concerns, Bukayo Saka was substituted late in the Spurs match after appearing to pick up a knock, and his fitness will be monitored ahead of the trip to Italy.

As Arsenal approach these important games, Arteta will need to rely on his squad’s depth and devise new strategies to overcome the ongoing injury struggles.