Arsenal have a busy schedule after the international break and Mikel Arteta will need to use his squad wisely. Three players in particular are likely to be in line for more prominent roles ahead of domestic football returning next weekend.
A couple of injuries aside, Arsenal had a pretty settled starting XI for the opening few weeks of the new Premier League season. Eight players have started all four matches and the Gunners returned 10 points from a possible 12.
Only a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Fulham prevented them from a perfect record. Arsenal’s success particularly in the first half of last season was largely down to their consistency in selection.
They were in the Europa League and were able to rotate much of their first-choice XI throughout the group stage. But Arteta knows he won’t be able to do the same this term.
The return to the Champions League means he will have to field a strong XI in midweek and at weekends. Arteta will have to pick and choose the games where he rests some of his first-team stars from the start in order not to burn them out and risk injury.
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Arsenal travel to winless Everton on Sunday before the visit of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League the following Wednesday. Tottenham then make the short trip to the Emirates for the first north London derby of the season, which is followed by a Carabao Cup tie against Brentford.
Then awaits a league clash at Bournemouth and the second European test away to Lens, before Manchester City look to maintain their fine recent record over the Gunners on October 8. Arteta’s squad will be stretched to the limit.
Three players in particular could be given rare starting roles in the coming weeks. Fabio Vieira, Jorginho and Reiss Nelson are all yet to start a match this season but that could soon change.
Vieira has taken his chance to impress in his three substitute appearances. He scored the winning penalty in the Community Shield win over Manchester City, won a spot-kick and set up a goal against Fulham, and grabbed a late assist for Gabriel Jesus’ strike to see off Manchester United.
Vieira is perhaps starting to win over the fans who questioned his signing last season. He appears to have bulked up slightly over the summer and is putting Kai Havertz under pressure for his starting spot.
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Jorginho has also come off the bench three times so far this season and is seen by Arteta as a reliable player to see out a match. But his experience in the Champions League could prove a vital cog in the next month, especially with Thomas Partey set to miss the busy stretch with a groin injury.
Thirdly, Reiss Nelson could be in line for his biggest chance in an Arsenal shirt to date. The winger was given the nod to come on over Leandro Trossard in the latter stages of the win against United.
It was a sign from Arteta that Nelson is now the first-choice back-up to Gabriel Martinelli on the left with Trossard perhaps preferred more centrally or in an attacking midfield role. Nelson’s pace and trickery caused United problems, as he showed on a couple of occasions last term.
Martinelli cannot be expected to start every match and the same could be said for Bukayo Saka. Nelson could easily be given his chance off the right, too.
The majority of Arsenal’s regular starters are also away on international duty so may be in need of a breather at some point. Vieira, Jorginho and Nelson have all had a couple of weeks off and that could pay dividends for them in the next few weeks.
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