Last season’s champions host last season’s runners up.

Eberechi Eze could make his Arsenal debut against Liverpool (Photo: Getty)

Mikel Arteta has been urged to start Eberechi Eze when Arsenal take on Liverpool in Sunday’s huge Premier League clash.

And the Gunners boss has suggested th…

Martin Odegaard is nursing a shoulder injury (Picture: Getty)

Bukayo Saka does not have to undergo surgery on his hamstring injury while Martin Odegaard remains in contention to feature in Sunday’s Premier League game against Liverpo…

Mikel Arteta’s side face a tough trip to Anfield at the weekend (Picture: Getty)

Nigel Winterburn reckons that Ethan Nwaneri’s encouraging display against Leeds United might have Mikel Arteta considering whether to start the Ar…

Saka will miss this weekend’s showdown with Liverpool.

Last season’s champions host last season’s runners up.

Bukayo Saka came off with a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s win against Leeds (Photo: Getty)

Bukayo Saka has been ruled out of this weekend’s huge Premier League clash between Arsenal and Liverpool after suffering a hamstring…

Bukayo Saka suffered an injury during Arsenal’s victory over Leeds United (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have been handed a boost after the injury scares to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

The Gunners’ comprehensive 5-0 victory ove…

Micah Richards is confident Arsenal have the squad to cope in light of the injuries sustained by Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

The enthusiasm that accompanied Saturday’s 5-0 win over Leeds was tempered slightly by the sight of two key players limping off either side of half time.

Skipper Odegaard is reported to have sustained a shoulder injury, while Saka appeared to confirm he had strained his hamstring as he made his way off the pitch.

‘That’s the negatives of the day,’ said Mikel Arteta, reflecting on the double setback in his post match press conference.

‘Martin felt something in his shoulder when he landed. We don’t know, we’ll have to scan him tomorrow and understand a bit better.

‘And Bukayo, while he was carrying the ball, wrestling with the defender, he felt something in his hamstring. Let’s see, I think it’s the other one, it’s not the same one as the previous injury.

‘We’ve been two weeks and we’ve already lost Kai, Martin and Bukayo, so it tells you how well-equipped you have to be in this league to manage and to maintain the level that we want.’

Saka’s injury is arguably the most concerning given how long he spent on the sidelines last season with a similar injury.

Arteta added: ‘I don’t know (how serious it is), he felt something while he was sprinting. That’s never a good sign. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow, speak to the doctors and understand better what he’s done.

‘But he’s had his injuries before, he knows exactly the feeling of that, so let’s wait.’

Having spent so heavily in the summer, however, Arsenal now look far better equipped to deal with two key absences, three if you include Havertz.

Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, whose arrival was confirmed ahead of kick-off against Leeds United, and Viktory Gyokeres all represent different options, while the likes of Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli and even 15-year-old Max Dowman could provide alternative solutions.

‘It will take the gloss off a really good day for them. Richards said on Match of the Day. ‘They were really impressive in terms of getting the goals, the confidence and the belief it will give them but that’ll put a dampener on the day.

‘But at least now they’ve got the squad to cope with it. In previous seasons they haven’t had that but I think they have that now.’

Arsenal face an acid test of their credentials when they travel to Anfield to face champions Liverpool next Sunday but will travel toMerseyside in confident mood given the resounding nature of their victory against Leeds.

‘It’s exactly how we wanted to start the first game, we won in a really convincing way,’ said Arteta. ‘You could sense something, especially in the atmosphere before the match. I think we have to be very proud of the way we played, the way we dominated the game, not conceding any shots almost, and the clean sheet. On top of that, a lot of good moments.

‘Viktor scoring his first two goals for the club, I’m thrilled and delighted for Jurrien after that long time after injuring his ankle and the hours that he’s put in with all the physios and the medical department to score two goals at Emirates Stadium, very special.

‘Mosquera making his debut as well for the club, and then one of the highlights, without any question of a doubt, Max coming in at 15 and making his debut and winning a penalty. So very proud.’

Should he be worried for his place?

Both players were forced off at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta has a big decision to make.

Eze could be the final piece of the puzzle in north London.

Bukayo Saka has been a reliable penalty taker for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Attention Fantasy Premier League managers, Arsenal may well have a new penalty taker this season.

Bukayo Saka has been the Gunners’ go-to man from the spot …

‘They were really sloppy.’

‘They were really sloppy.’

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane (Picture: Sky Sports)

Roy Keane accused three key Arsenal players of ‘not turning up’ during their opening Premier League victory over Manchester United.

The Gunners, expected to chal…

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane (Picture: Sky Sports)

Roy Keane accused three key Arsenal players of ‘not turning up’ during their opening Premier League victory over Manchester United.

The Gunners, expected to chal…

Martin Odegaard has hit back at Arsenal legend Tony Adams and defended his style of captaincy.

The Norway international was handed the armband three years ago and has led a young team that was emerging as top four contenders to the brink of Premier League glory.

Having finished as runners-up three seasons on the trot, Adams believes a change of captaincy could be the decisive factor in helping his old club get over the line.

Adams, who skippered four title-winning teams under George Graham and Arsene Wenger,has championed the cause of Declan Rice and fears Arsenal will never land the prizes they crave with Odegaard wearing the armband.

What Tony Adams said about Martin Odegaard

He said: ‘The call is to make Declan Rice the captain. I think Declan is my kind of captain, and it might free Odegaard up to play with a bit more freedom,’ Adams said.

‘Every now and again as a manager, you have to put someone who reflects you, who reflects the football club that you think can actually take you to the next level.

‘He (Arteta) has got an opportunity this year to actually turn into a winner,’ he added. ‘To win league titles, you have to be a [Jurgen] Klopp, you have to be a [Sir Alex] Ferguson.

‘You have to lead by example, you have to be a winner, you have to go about your business. And that reflects in your captain.

‘And I’m seeing Declan Rice as a captain but I’m saying to Arteta: Come on, step up now. It’s your time to be a winning manager and a fantastic manager, because you’re not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.’

On the eve of the new campaign, Odegaard was asked about his leadership style and revealed details of what he believes makes him such an effective leader.

He told Sky Sports: ‘It’s a lot to be fair. It’s a lot of small things. It’s hard to describe it, it’s more like a constant role you do.

‘There’s always these small things you have to do. In general it’s just how I see it is to get the best out of the team and how to give the team the right mindset. Help the players around you, get the best mindset in everyone.

‘I think before the game just on the pitch I do a little one (team talk) and inside the dressing room we have different people talking.

‘It’s not just me there’s a lot of people sharing the responsibility and the manager does a lot as well. It’s a shared thing. It’s not just me all the time.’

Adams’ view, meanwhile, clearly holds little water with Arteta who launched a passionate defence of Odegaard ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Mikel Arteta defends Martin Odegaard

‘Martin has got hundreds of qualities and everybody who has come across him will notice them very quickly,’ he said.

‘The biggest one is that to be named captain, to be respected and especially admired by somebody, he doesn’t need to shout.

‘That’s a massive quality. A lot of people talk and shout, and then when you close the door, they do something very different.

‘Martin doesn’t need to open his mouth and everybody says ‘he’s my captain, I want him to represent, I trust him 100 per cent, he’s the guy I want to have next to me.’

Martin Odegaard has come under scrutiny (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta insisted that Martin Odegaard retains the support of his Arsenal teammates after calls for the midfielder to be stripped of the captaincy.

Odegaard has captained the Gu…

He thinks the jury is out on Arsenal’s new frontman.

Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard endured a poor 2024-25 campaign (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been warned he could be replaced by Mikel Arteta’s £68m transfer target Eberechi Eze.

The Gunners are interested in…

Eze could be the final piece of the puzzle in north London.

Declan Rice has been tipped to replace the struggling Gunners captain.

Mikel Arteta consoled Martin Odegaard at full-time (Picture: Getty)

Frank Leboeuf said Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard left much to be desired with his performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
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