Martin Keown fears Arsenal ‘bit off greater than they may chew’ with their attempts to compete on 4 fronts contributing to the injuries which can cost them dear within the title race.
Having led the way in which within the Premier League for the overwhelming majority of the season, the Gunners will relinquish top spot on Wednesday should Manchester City win at Burnley.
Sunday’s loss on the Etihad represented the Gunners’ fourth successive defeat in domestic competitions and Keown is anxious the lack of so many key players at various points within the campaign is starting to inform.
Arsenal spent well over £200million last summer attempting to bolster their squad but Arteta has rarely had a full compliment of players to pick out from.
Martin Odegaard’s return to the starting line-up represented a fine addition against City, but with Bukayo Saka still absence he continues to be unable to select his first alternative attack.
Defensively, meanwhile, Keown believes the unavailability of full-backs Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber made an enormous difference against the brand new title favourites.
‘We were on our third right-back,’ Keown told talkSPORT, stating Cristhian Mosequera was forced to play in an unfamiliar role up against Jeremy Doku.
‘It’s normal to feel nervous however it’s about the way you react. I don’t consider that the injuries Arsenal have had have helped them.
‘Timber and Saka are usually not available for Arsenal. Perhaps Arsenal bit off greater than they will chew. They were really big in 4 competitions.
‘Is the workload playing an element here? Perhaps that game got here on the mistaken time. The squads players that are available meant Arsenal played with 4 central defenders yesterday.
‘No Calafiori to develope the play in midfield like they normally have. No Timber and that tenacity he has to assist cope with Haaland when he’s doing his stuff.
‘People are available to switch who’s missing, we were on our third right-back yesterday.’
Odegaard, meanwhile, insists it continues to be ‘all to play for’ despite City taking charge of the race to be crowned champions.
Even when City win at Burnely, Arsenal will still be level on points and Odegaard has urged his team-mates to deliver a much-needed victory of their next match against Newcastle on the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Who will win the Premier League title?
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‘We’ve to maintain going,’ said Odegaard. ‘It was all the time going to go all of the option to the tip so we’ve to maintain going, keep working hard and sticking together.
‘We just sit up for the following game now and bounce back. We created just a few big, big probabilities (against City) so there are some positives to take.
‘It’s frustrating in the intervening time but we’ll analyse it, move onto the following one, and it’s all to play for. That is the most effective a part of the season so we’ll just sit up for the following game.’
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