Mikel Arteta refuses to answer important Arsenal question as Martin Odegaard bears huge expectation

Mikel Arteta is under increasing pressure going into Arsenal’s latest fixture as they travel to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners are winless in their last three league games having lost to Bournemouth and Newcastle and drawn with Liverpool.

Injuries and suspensions have of course played their part, but the Spaniard has lost plenty of sympathy during the run, even though Arsenal have reached a League Cup quarter-final that many will expect to turn into a semi-final should they win at home to Crystal Palace.

There are three big questions, however, that Arteta will be answering before the weekend. From the injury situation to proving the side’s title credentials, the Spaniard will be spinning plates in the build-up to the clash.

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Missing the best

Martin Odegaard has been out for some time and only made his return in the midweek Champions League clash with Inter Milan. After suffering an ankle problem in the September international break, the Gunners have suffered with a lack of creativity that has seen the likes of Leandro Trossard struggle to fulfil.

Asked if he will be able to start on Sunday, Arteta said: “Everybody that is in the squad is going to be fit and available to start the game, so then it will be a decision whether it is too early or the right moment for him to make that step again.”

Arteta will need to decide how much he is willing to risk the Norwegian and if he isn’t, the idea of Leandro Trossard again playing internally is incredibly underwhelming. Even should Odegaard start, he has grown a reputation of losing influence in big games so what impact he might have could yet be limited regardless.

The response

A run such as has been seen by Arsenal, of course, raises questions of how the mentality of the group is faring. The performance at Newcastle was horrendous and showcased a lack of application and, to a degree, effort.

Fans wanted to see something more against Inter and despite peppering the box with 46 crosses, it remained comfortable for the Italian side. It therefore leaves Arteta needing to show that he can get more from his players in the biggest game of the season so far.

The pressure is perhaps at its highest since Arteta took over, with expectations at an equal level. Fans will be expecting energy at the Bridge and anything less, especially if a win does not materialise, will fall badly on the coach.

Title credentials

Ultimately, Arteta will be asking the question itself to his players - do they want to be title contenders, or not? Asked if his side would fall out of the race if they fail to win on Sunday, his answer was not at all that surprising.

“I don’t think about that,” he said. A short answer but what that said was more than the words alone.

Losing is not an option for the Spaniard and at the same time such negative thoughts and predictions are not being entertained. As usual, he has his mind on one thing and one thing only… winning!