Arsenal have been dealt a fresh blow with captain Martin Ødegaard suffering a shoulder injury in their 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. He was forced off after just 18 minutes. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the injury is similar to a recent one, and Ødegaard did not train ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League opener versus Athletic Club.
With several key players already out including Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz (knee), Gabriel Jesus Arteta must consider tactical reshuffles. Here are three potential lineups to compensate for Ødegaard’s absence:
1. Youthful Creative Spark — Ethan Nwaneri in the No.10 Spot
Arteta could promote Ethan Nwaneri into the central creative role Ødegaard vacates. In the Forest match, Nwaneri replaced Ødegaard and was given attacking freedom to link with Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres. This setup would likely be a 4-2-3-1 with more adventurous fullbacks or wide forwards assisting, sacrificing some experience but injecting energy.
2. Eberechi Eze as the Pivot
Another option is to shift Eze centrally he impressed on the left wing against Forest with his ability to drift into pockets of space and create chances. With Eze in the “number 10” role, other attacking players like Noni Madueke, Gyökeres or Gabriel Martinelli could rotate on the wings, keeping the attacking threat alive even without Ødegaard.
3. Physical Midfield Over Creativity
For tougher fixtures, Arteta might trade creativity for robustness. A midfield trio composed of Declan Rice, Martín Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino could add defensive cover, energy, and discipline. In this setup, less emphasis on the classic “No.10” role, more on controlling transitions, winning duels, and letting wide forwards and fullbacks supply the penetration.
Although Ødegaard’s absence is a serious blow he is central to Arsenal’s control and design in possession the depth in the squad gives Arteta a range of tactical alternatives. Whether he opts for youth, creativity, or physicality will likely depend on the opponent and how many other injuries remain. These lineups provide a roadmap for how Arsenal might stay competitive without their captain.