Sterling start, wildcard - Mikel Arteta's Arsenal vs Tottenham attack dilemma after Jesus injury
Arsenal are not exactly coming into the North London Derby this week in great form. The Gunners were knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday by holders Manchester United, with their Carabao Cup hopes hanging by a thread following a 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle in midweek.
Added to that, the injury woes keep on piling up. The Gunners have struggled in a number of areas this season, with full-back an ongoing issue. In midfield, new signing Mikel Merino missed a number of weeks with a dislocated shoulder while the main creative outlets in the team have also been hampered.
Martin Odegaard missed two months of action with an ankle problem, and Bukayo Saka has now been ruled out of action after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury. And just when there seems to be a solution to the problems, it's quickly whisked away.
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Ethan Nwaneri came into the team in the absence of Saka, making his first Premier League start for the club at Brentford on New Year's Day. The youngster was influential in that game, before going on to score the Gunners' only goal in the draw against Brighton. But he too has been ruled out with an injury, expected to miss a month of action.
Gabriel Jesus, suffering from a poor spell in front of goal, suddenly looked to have found his scoring boots. Five goals in two games against Crystal Palace were followed up by another against Brentford. But against Manchester United, he was stretchered off the field due to a knee injury, with Mikel Arteta admitting after the game that it did not look good for the striker.
It leaves Arsenal short in an attacking sense at a time they need inspiration up front the most. This week sees Arsenal welcome bitter rivals Tottenham to the Emirates Stadium, with Ange Postecoglou's side suffering an injury crisis of their own in defence.
With so many out for Arsenal, it leaves Arteta little wiggle room in picking his team. Kai Havertz will almost definitely start up front, and then it looks to be a choice between just three players for two spots in attack.
Raheem Sterling arguably looked a little ring-rusty after replacing Jesus on Sunday. He is likely to start on the bench again, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli the more trusted options for Arteta this season.
Another potential option could be young star Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who is yet to make his debut for the Gunners. The 22-year-old has been named on the bench for a number of Champions League games, as well as the Premier League game against Brighton and Sunday's game against Manchester United.
Whether Arteta trusts him enough to start seems unlikely, but the manager may be forced to use him from the bench given the lack of alternatives in attack - unless they move incredibly quickly in the January transfer window.