When Arsenal plays Tottenham Hotspur, Mikel Arteta will need to deal with Declan Rice’s absence. Martin Keown, the legend of Arsenal, has given him advice on this.
Martin Keown, a former Arsenal defender, has urged the team’s players to fill in for Declan Rice ahead of Sunday’s matchup against Tottenham Hotspur, one of the most anticipated games of the season.
After the international break, Arsenal will play the North London Derby with all of its ferocity, but without Rice because of his suspension following a contentious red card in their match against Brighton.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Keown emphasized the value of squad depth in these kinds of pivotal games. Keown stated, “Jorginho has to take that position and he definitely has the experience, but it can’t rest on just one player.”
We frequently played without important players like Patrick Vieira or Thierry Henry during my tenure, but other players like Edu and Kanu filled in, and the team didn’t suffer. Arsenal needs to see that right now.
Keown expressed concerns about the depth of Arsenal’s current roster, pointing out that a large number of young players were sold to balance the books. “At this point, the strength of the squad is the question. Many talented young players have been let go by them, he continued.
Declan Rice is not the lone player missing Sunday’s derby, which is unfortunate for manager Mikel Arteta. Riccardo Calafiori, who was recently signed, suffered an odd injury while playing for Italy abroad.
In addition, Takehiro Tomiyasu is still out for the foreseeable future due to a shoulder injury that also sidelines fellow recent recruit Mikel Merino.
Keown urged Arsenal to use the challenge as motivation for the derby, despite these obstacles. “You have to set Rice’s unfair situation aside, even though it was unfair,” he stated.
A lot of excitement surrounds this game every time, especially because of the atmosphere and the fans. Although Spurs have already dropped a match to Newcastle, I like their new manager, team spirit, and style of play. Arsenal is in a difficult situation.
Arsenal has not had much luck at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium lately. Spurs have won three of the last four meetings between the teams, including 2-1, 2-0, and 3-0 triumphs. Spurs have dominated the derby at their home field.But Arsenal turned the tide with a 2-0 victory in January 2023, and then they won 3-2 in a thrilling match that preserved their hopes of winning the title the previous year.
Keown is still optimistic about his former team’s prospects despite the recent injuries sustained by Arsenal and Spurs’ home field advantage. “I don’t see the Spurs winning, but it would be a surprise,” he stated. “Arsenal has the DNA of champions, as evidenced by their defensive stats and quantity of clean sheets. They will have to work hard to earn the victory at Spurs, but I’m rooting for them.
