Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard absences worry me – it’s more than just their quality on the ball Arsenal will miss

Emmanuel Petit is timid a north London derby defeat for Arsenal would possibly well per chance per chance also abolish their title ambitions.

Mikel Arteta’s aspect will budge into the clash towards Tottenham on Sunday without Declan Rice and skipper Martin Odegaard, two predominant players in the midfield.

Rice is out of Sunday’s day out to Tottenham in consequence of suspension whereas Gunners skipper Odegaard suffered an ankle injury for the duration of international responsibility with Norway.

Supervisor Arteta will additionally be without summer signing Mikel Merino and defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney, with Gabriel Jesus and Riccardo Calafiori under injury clouds, too.

Nevertheless it indubitably is Rice and Odegaard who will be the largest absentees given their predominant roles in Arsenal’s midfield.

And Petit, who featured 118 times for Arsenal, holds grave fears about the tumble-off in quality from the pair to whoever will substitute them, namely in a clash towards bitter rivals Tottenham.

Speaking ahead of episode 1 of The Lineup, a brand original YouTube demonstrate sold to you by talkSPORT & BetMGM, he acknowledged: “I’m pretty sure that Arteta and his staff have been scratching their heads trying to find the best solution, especially in midfield.

“In contemporary football, you salvage games in the midfield most of the times. These two guys are leaders, Rice and Odegaard. I am very, very upset they won’t be here on Sunday because in phrases of rotation, it be already somewhat restricted for Arteta.”

Petit added that it’s not just the technical abilities of Rice and Odegaard Arsenal will miss, either.

“This game will be predominant and they will be missing these guys vastly on the pitch and in the dressing room as neatly,” Petit said.

“In phrases of striking character and personality on the pitch, a success the ball, attempting to present a boost to the stress from the fans, that will be something missing for Arsenal.”

Italian midfielder Jorginho looms as a probable replacement for Rice whereas Kai Havertz would possibly well per chance per chance also tumble encourage into midfield to own the void left by Odegaard, which would power another re-dart up top.

Irrespective of how Arteta shapes his squad for Sunday’s derby, he will be alive to to preserve a long way from defeat given a bumper fixture on the horizon.

Once Arsenal’s match towards Tottenham is full, they shuttle to Europa League winners Atalanta for a midweek Champions League fixture.

Days later, they shuttle to the Etihad Stadium to face defending Premier League champions Manchester City on September 22.

Stable to direct, it’s no longer an supreme speed of fixtures, namely with key players absent, and would possibly well per chance per chance also prove decisive in the title lumber.

Petit neatly-known City additionally had their bear injury elements closing season as the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne missed 14 and 28 games respectively.

Nevertheless the 1998 Arsenal double winner pointed out that City had the depth and quality to handle their absences nevertheless Arsenal, in his opinion, be triumphant in no longer.

It would also prove to be a fatal blow to their title hopes, just 5 games into the season.

“City started poorly (closing season) and they were missing tall players for the duration of the season, nevertheless they won the title,” Petit said.

“I’m no longer obvious which will additionally be that that you just would possibly per chance presumably deem of for Arsenal in phrases of quality and quantity of players. That’s what I have been timid about for ages, the rotation of the crew.

“Now they are back in the Champions League again. Playing every single three days, international duty as well with your country, that means you need to get rotation in your team.

“In case you find predominant players injured, what’s the solution for Arteta? He is received players, nevertheless no longer in the same position and who can no longer convey the same qualities on the pitch.”

Despite the doom and gloom surrounding Arsenal in terms of their absentees and the implications of what a loss could mean to their title aspirations, Petit is hopeful his old team can get it done.

Petit is no stranger to the north London derby having featured in five and had a record of one win, one defeat and three draws.

Arsenal did beat Tottenham a second time during Petit’s stint at the club, but he was not in the matchday squad.

Given he only beat Tottenham once, it will serene come as no shock what Petit’s favourite memory of a north London derby is as Arsenal contemplate to recreate an identical feat on Sunday.

“A success 3-1 away at White Hart Lane,” Petit said. “I scored. It modified into a big scurry from Dennis Bergkamp.”

A great pass from Bergkamp it was, as the Dutch icon played a defence-splitting ball in the path of Petit who had bombed forward from midfield.

Petit controlled the ball with his left foot and then lifted it over the on-rushing Ian Walker via his right peg to open the scoring.

Goals from Nicolas Anelka and Nwankwo Kanu either side of Tottenham midfielder Darren Anderton’s strike ensured Arsenal left White Hart Lane with all three points.

It will be a tough ask for the Gunners to replicate the feat on Sunday.

Don’t miss episode 1 of The Lineup bought to you by talkSPORT & BetMGM. Available on the talkSPORT YouTube channel on Tuesday 17 September