Ahead of Arsenal’s last match during the recent domestic window, Mikel Arteta expressed caution regarding the effects of international breaks. “I prefer not to watch the games or listen to anything!” he chuckled, while knocking on wood for good luck.
He emphasized the importance of hoping for player well-being, especially after the previous break proved challenging, resulting in Martin Odegaard’s injury that sidelined him for at least six weeks. It’s no surprise that a manager with a limited squad would view the international calendar with dislike.
Adding to Arsenal’s problems, Riccardo Calafiori had already been away with the Italy national team and returned during the same break, making it a forgettable fortnight for the club.
Coupled with Mikel Merino’s training injury and Declan Rice’s suspension, Arteta was left with a makeshift midfield lineup for the upcoming North London Derby.
Despite these setbacks, Arsenal emerged successfully, maintaining an impressive unbeaten record. Nearly two months into the season, they have only drawn matches against Brighton, Manchester City, and Atalanta in the Champions League. The league table looks promising, with some tough away fixtures already behind them.
This achievement reflects well on Arteta, his coaching staff, and the club as a whole, showcasing their resilience amid challenges. Although injuries continue to present new hurdles, they have yet to affect the team’s performance adversely.
Following their victory over Southampton on Saturday, Arsenal still faces six fitness concerns. Odegaard remains unavailable and will not join Norway as he recovers from ankle ligament damage. Initially, he was expected to return shortly after the October break, which is now approaching.
“It’s progressing well at the moment and appears better than we anticipated,” Arteta noted in the matchday program before the Southampton game.
“However, we must take it one day at a time.” His optimism may be tempered by his national team coach, Stale Solbakken, who indicated that the midfielder still has “a long way to go” before he can return to competitive matches.
