Arsenal faces injury woes ahead of North London Derby

Arsenal faces significant injury challenges ahead of their upcoming match against Tottenham in the North London Derby. Key player Declan Rice will be unavailable due to a red card received in a previous match against Brighton, which has left Mikel Arteta with a gap to fill in the midfield. The absence of Rice adds to the existing injury concerns, as Martin Odegaard is also facing a race against time to recover from an injury sustained during international duty. His national coach indicated that the situation looked serious, raising doubts about his participation in the derby. In addition to Odegaard's injury, summer signing Riccardo Calafiori was forced off during his time with the Italian national team, although his manager suggested the injury might not be as severe as initially thought. This situation complicates Arteta's plans, as he has already been managing without Gabriel Jesus, who has missed the last two games but is expected to return soon. The potential return of Jesus could provide some much-needed support for the team. Arteta's squad has been relatively stable over the past two seasons, but the recent injuries and suspensions have created a challenging scenario. With the North London Derby approaching, the Gunners will need to adapt quickly to these setbacks. The likely replacements for the injured players include Thomas Partey and Jorginho, who may need to step up in crucial roles. As Arsenal prepares for this important fixture, the mounting injury list raises concerns about their ability to compete effectively against a strong Tottenham side. The outcome of this match could significantly impact their season, making the management of these injuries critical for Arteta and his team.