#42 - Why Zinchenko & Sterling may hold the key to navigating tough week

Arsenal return from the break with 3 very tough away trips in 7 days, Arteta must rotate sensibly & find unfamiliar solutions in the absence of Merino & Rice.

It’s the start of three games a week season very soon. And the first instalment could not be much harder—Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City - all away. Given the Mikel Merino injury and Declan Rice suspension, it just got tougher too.

Arteta has so far very finely tweaked the starting eleven, but he will need to start to make more changes given the schedule. The manager will need to find out which partnerships excel, for example, which left-back partners best with Leandro Trossard, and which with Gabriel Martinelli. Can one pairing feature in the league and the other in the Champions League?

Raheem Sterling - ready to go & key to keeping Arsenal’s frontline fresh and unpredictable

Arsenal let Reiss Nelson leave on loan on deadline day following Raheem Sterling’s arrival. The benefit of such an experience upgrade means Arteta should be more trusting and willing to start Sterling.

After missing out on the England squad, Sterling will be one of a few senior players to stay behind and be working with Arteta over the next two weeks, and this should only strengthen his chances of a start, or two, in this trio of games.

His versatility also ups his chances. We know Sterling can play on both sides, and in the absence of a recognised centre forward now at the club, I would not be shocked to see Raheem feature as the number 9 on occasions.

Mikel Merino’s injury and Declan Rice’s suspension means Kai Havertz may have to retreat to midfield for a few games, and we’ve seen this work well when Leandro Trossard has led the line, perhaps a relationship with Sterling could work in a similar way - or even a dynamic triangle where the trio rotate.

We know looking at the statistics that Arsenal generate a lot of cut-back opportunities, but that they are not particularly efficient.

This is Sterling’s speciality, and whether he plays left, central or right, you can be sure Arsenal will be aiming to create these opportunities for their new arrival.

Utilise defensive depth to help threadbare midfield & fix the left-hand side

Arsenal have a number of left-backs that Arteta frequently inverts, but very rarely, if ever, actually starts them in midfield.

Given how tough the next three games our and the lack of depth in midfield right now, Arteta could be wise to consider starting one of these in midfield, to help Thomas Partey.

Oleksandr Zinchenko seems the most obvious. He plays this position for his country and has the technical level to get on the ball and play as a midfielder. His lack of physicality could be countered by partnering Thomas Partey and having Riccardo Calafiori at left-back. I’m aware we’ve been asking to see this for some time now and Arteta never does it, but given the options currently, I do think it could finally be the time.

I think this trio of players has a good mix to work on what has so far this season, been a broken left-hand side.

Calafiori is yet to start but has looked brilliant when he’s featured and has the physical and dribbling attributes to tandem well with Zinchenko. I feel Martinelli would then be well suited to add the attacking thorn to this triangle, with Zinchenko’s ability to drift wide allowing Martinelli to get away from the touchline he is often locked to and into more dangerous central zones.

Give Timber his minutes at right-back

I think Timber needs to play more at right-back, helping to elevate the load on Ben White, and also put the Dutchman in his best position. So far he’s looked a little uncomfortable inverting from the left. We have Zinchenko, Kiwior and Calafiori who can all focus their time there.

Get Jorginho minutes, in the right environment

Jorginho is yet to feature this season, after being a central figure in the early part of 2024. Arteta extended his contract, and must trust the Italian to take minutes away from his other midfielders. Picking the right team for him to slot into is key though, as his lack of physicality could be found out. I think pairing Jorginho with a rested Declan Rice in Atalanta for example, could be a good decision.

Find the right time to trust Nwaneri with a start

A much kinder run will follow this tricky trio of games: Bolton (h) - date TBC, Leicester (h), PSG (h), Southampton (h).

That again will be an opportunity for Arteta to rotate and find fresh solutions. Given the decision to let Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe go, Ethan Nwaneri should be trusted with a start and plenty of minutes in that run. After all, we are only a couple of injuries away from needing to start the teenager in the league, so he needs to be prepared.