What Is Arsenal’s Plan To Cope Without Injured Martin Odegaard?

Gunners To Start Ben White In Arsenal’s Midfield

Arsenal’s plans to cope without injured Martin Odegaard have been revealed, with Ben White set to start in midfield for the Gunners. Odegaard is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in training, and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that White will be used to fill the void in the Norwegian’s absence. White has predominantly played as a central defender for Arsenal, but he has also featured in midfield on a few occasions, and Arteta believes he has the qualities to be effective in the role. “Ben is a very intelligent player, and he has the ability to play in different positions,” Arteta said. “He can play as a centre-back, a right-back, and a central midfielder. “He’s very comfortable on the ball, and he’s good at reading the game. I think he can be a very good option for us in midfield.”

Other Options For Arsenal Without Martin Odegaard

White will be the most likely starter in midfield due to his versatility and adaptability, however, there are other names that have been linked with the role. Emile Smith Rowe is a natural attacking midfielder and would be a more direct replacement, but he has also been struggling with injuries of late. Mohamed Elneny is another option, but he is more of a defensive midfielder and would not be as creative as Odegaard. Granit Xhaka is another midfielder who could be used in a more advanced role, but he is also more suited to a deeper-lying position.

How Arsenal Could Line Up Without Martin Odegaard

With White expected to start in midfield, Arsenal could line up as follows: 1. Aaron Ramsdale 2. Ben White 3. William Saliba 4. Gabriel Magalhaes 5. Kieran Tierney 6. Thomas Partey 7. Granit Xhaka 8. Bukayo Saka 9. Gabriel Martinelli 10. Eddie Nketiah Arteta could also opt to use a more attacking formation, with Smith Rowe or Elneny coming into the side. However, White is the most likely starter, and he will be tasked with providing creativity and control in the absence of Odegaard.