Arsenal’s mounting injury woes have led Mikel Arteta to consider a bold tactical adjustment involving Declan Rice. William Saliba, who was instrumental in last week’s north London derby victory over Tottenham, missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Aston Villa due to a late-game injury.
The 23-year-old defender is also ruled out of tonight’s Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb, though Arteta remains hopeful for his return ahead of next month’s pivotal clash with Manchester City.
In the meantime, Arsenal’s defensive options are severely limited, especially at right-back. Thomas Partey has been filling in sporadically, while Ben White is still recovering from knee surgery. Takehiro Tomiyasu, though recently back in training, has yet to feature this season.
Arteta has acknowledged that Rice, known for his versatility, could temporarily step into a central defensive role.
This shift would enable Jurrien Timber to play in his preferred position. Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Arteta said, “It’s been on my mind.
Declan has shown he can adapt to different roles—No6, No8, even No10 on occasion. While it’s not ideal, his ability to bring something unique as a central defender is invaluable. The reality is we lack right-footed players in that position.”
Victory tonight would secure Arsenal’s place in the Champions League knockout stages, a much-needed relief amid their grueling schedule.
Arteta emphasized the importance of capitalizing on this opportunity, especially given the team’s disappointing result against Villa.
Reflecting on that match, Arteta stated, “The mood in the camp has been focused. We can’t dwell on bad luck or results.
The performance was there, and we were unfortunate. Now, it’s about controlling what we can and moving forward.”
A win tonight would not only cement Arsenal’s progress in Europe but also alleviate some of the pressure building on a squad stretched thin by injuries.