Morning all.
A few bits and pieces for you today, as we wait for updates on potential injuries to Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber after the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. I have more concern about the former than the latter, but Mikel Arteta meets the press today ahead of the EFL Cup game against Preston North End tomorrow evening, so we might get some information out of him.
Whatever about those two, it feels like that game will be one where young players are drafted in, with the manager having to find the balance between a side that can win the game, and not risking any more important senior players before we play Newcastle, Inter, and Chelsea away inside 8 days. Tough one.
I wonder will there be a question today about Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has been on the bench for the last three games but overlooked in the last two for Miles Lewis-Skelly. I’m fascinated to know if this is simply a fitness issue, or whether we’re seeing a real change in the pecking order here. Against Shaktar and Liverpool you’d have thought Zinchenko’s experience would give him the nod over an 18 year old who is still learning the left-back position, but the manager thought otherwise. And for someone who has been accused of being overly reticent to use young players, it’s certainly an interesting talking point.
It also makes me wonder what we’ll see tomorrow night. Given it’s an EFL Cup game, and Lewis-Skelly started the win over Bolton, you’d expect him to start again in this one. But if Arteta needs to use the full depth of his squad, he’s likely going to have to include Zinchenko, and if it is a fitness thing with him, he’s not going to get any better unless he plays. The competitive minutes for the younger man are important for his development, so it’d be a bad idea to overlook this opportunity for him, but where does that leave the Ukrainian international? Does Arteta choose him and Lewis-Skelly, and if so, who plays where?
Question: Which Mikel said…
Source link : https://arseblog.com/2024/10/awaiting-updates-lewis-skelly-mikel-on-injuries/
Author : arseblog
Publish date : 2024-10-29 06:32:22
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