A crucial period of the season looms for Arsenal in the absence of their inevitable strength down the right flank.
The Gunners have endured a bizarre week without their Hill End graduate, but a hamstring tear means Bukayo Saka is fit to feature. A sustained period on the sidelines.
Saka has served as a one-man attack for a struggling Arsenal side at times this season, and their current deficit in the Premier League title race means Mikel Arteta has little time to find the perfect replacement in the absence of their star winger.
The north London side remain unbeaten after the November international break, but there is still nothing resembling unwavering positive momentum at the Emirates Stadium. still, Arsenal He is expected to finish the year on a high and enter 2025 well into the title discussion.
Here's how the Gunners could line up to visit Ipswich on Friday evening.
Goalkeeper: David Raya – The Spaniard was forced to play a lot more than Arteta would have liked at the weekend, but Raya's ability to stop shots eventually allowed Arsenal to get going.
Right-back: Joren Temper – The manager must be concerned about his workload, but there are few alternatives at right-back with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu out.
Centre-back: William Saliba – Saliba fell below his usual level at the weekend, so he will be aiming to bounce back on Friday night. The return of Liam Delap gives the Frenchman something to consider.
Center back: Gabriel – Saka's absence will certainly hurt Gabriel's performance on set-pieces given the quality of the winger's corner kick. Who will fill this void?
LB: Riccardo Calafiore – Tough on teenager Myles Lewis Skelly, but Calafiore is a key cog in Arteta's framework and the Spaniard should have no hesitation in bringing him back into his squad after he featured on the bench at Selhurst Park.
CM: Declan Rice – Rice will float between the No. 6 and No. 8 roles, and this appears to be a game in which he will be relegated to a deeper position after his excellent showing on Saturday. The Gunners certainly don't need Rice and Midfielder against Ipswich.
CM: Mikel Merino – With Rice occupying the base, there could be a call-up for Merino, who has been flattered to deceive since joining the club but undoubtedly has some value.
Midfielder: Martin Odegaard – It's a leader's time to shine. Saka took over when Odegaard was sidelined for two months in the autumn, and now the Scandinavian playmaker will have to do just that truly Prove your worth.
Right wing: Gabriel Martinelli – Arteta hinted that Martinelli would act as a starting substitute in Saka's absence after he downplayed the importance of the right flank at the weekend. Perhaps this increased responsibility will be the work of the Brazilian, who has only shone in spurts this season.
ST: Kai Havertz – Havertz He does not operate as a midfielder and Arteta is likely to move him back to the centre-forward role amid the Gunners' attacking reshuffle. The German has returned to A Premier League Saturday's score sheet.
Left wing: Gabriel Jesus – “This is Jesus' time to shine, in fairness. After terrorizing Crystal Palace last week, Jesus must now prove that his two productive outings were not just a strange hatred for the south London club.
