Mikel Arteta advised to rest one key player ahead of Man City clash

Arteta. With a 1-0 victory over rivals Tottenham in North London on Sunday, Arsenal achieved their greatest victory of the season thus far.

Mikel Arteta, the former Manchester City coach, demonstrated his tactical prowess by devising a masterful plan that enabled Arsenal to secure three crucial points despite the absence of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in the middle.

Arsenal’s next match is against City at the Etihad Stadium, and victory there would be a significant boost to the Gunners’ hopes of winning the Premier League this year. The Blues haven’t won in over a decade.

However, Darren Bent has recommended that Arsenal hold off on starting a crucial player against City.

TalkSport analyst Bent encouraged Arsenal not to start Odegaard against City since the midfield player is still healing from an ankle injury sustained while playing for his country.

“If he is not fit or even if he is 20%, don’t want to risk him. No way. It’s a long season.”

Since joining Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2021, the £35 million midfield player has been a revelation. Odegaard, 25, is now one of Arteta’s most vital players and one of the world’s top players. He also serves as the captain of the Gunners.

With an estimated weekly salary of £240,000, Odegaard has a tremendous impact on Arsenal. In fact, many supporters are worried about what will happen to the team on Sunday when the Norwegian international is not available against Tottenham.

Soccer Football – Community Shield – Manchester City v Arsenal – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – August 6, 2023 Arsenal’s Kai Havertz in action with Manchester City’s Rodri REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

But the victory over the North London Derby has convinced supporters that Arsenal can win major games even without important players, and with Rice returning to the team to play against City, Arteta might have made the right decision to rest Odegaard ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League match.

No Arsenal fan wants to witness their team’s leader and best midfield player miss the biggest match of the season, but the Gunners can’t afford to rush Odegaard back.

The season has just begun, as Bent said, and Arsenal cannot afford to lose out on Odegaard for any longer if the former Real Madrid player returns from injury too soon and experiences an avoidable setback.

In fact, Odegaard is too crucial for Arsenal to risk versus City in the long run, and all the indications are that the midfielder will be rested until he is well enough to play in the Premier League again.