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It may seem early in the season for talk of defining periods but the standards set by Manchester City are so punishingly high that Arsenal's upcoming fixtures have that look.
Lose their impending trips to Tottenham and City, live on Sky Sports on Sunday September 15 and Sunday September 22 respectively, and, having already been held to a draw by Brighton, Arsenal could find themselves eight points off the pace of the champions.
It is a worst-case scenario which hardly bears thinking about for the club's fans. But there is also the small matter of a Champions League opener away to Atalanta on Thursday which leaves a turnaround of under 72 hours to the clash at the Etihad Stadium.
It is far from ideal, especially given City open their Champions League campaign a day earlier, at home to Inter Milan, following a Premier League home game against Brentford, eliminating the need for travel and giving them an extra day to prepare.
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As if the run of three huge away games in seven days was not already difficult enough for Arsenal, they are now contending with a crisis of personnel in midfield too.
Mikel Arteta, already without Mikel Merino, who fractured his shoulder in training immediately after his arrival from Real Sociedad, will also be unable to call on the suspended Declan Rice against Spurs following his contentious red card against Brighton.
The international break has added to his woes. A distraught Martin Odegaard had to be helped off the pitch on Monday after turning his ankle in action for Norway. He will be assessed by Arsenal but has been pictured using crutches, hinting at a lengthy lay-off.
Riccardo Calafiori also hurt his ankle during the break, in Italy's Nations League win over France on Friday, but is already back in London and working to be ready for Sunday's game.
Arsenal travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having been victorious in their last two visits, ending an eight-game winless run at Spurs. But if Odegaard is added to the absentee list, they will do so without what might be considered their entire first-choice midfield.
Arteta's midfield headache
While Merino has not yet had a chance to establish himself at Arsenal, Rice and Odegaard are undisputably key. In fact, since Rice's arrival from West Ham at the start of last season, Arsenal have only contested three games out of 55 with neither player starting.
The first of those three games saw them beat Brentford 1-0 in last season's Carabao Cup. But they were beaten 3-1 by West Ham in the second, and drew 1-1 away to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League group stage in the third.
The last time Rice dropped out of the starting line-up for a Premier League game was the 2-0 win over Luton Town in April, when he was replaced by the departed Emile Smith Rowe.
For Odegaard, you have to go back even further, to the 3-1 victory over Burnley in November, for which Kai Havertz was deployed as Arsenal's right-sided No 8 in his place.
When it comes to how Arteta's midfield takes shape on this occasion, the only apparent certainty is the inclusion of Thomas Partey, who has started their first three games of the season at No 6, with Rice playing as the more advanced left-sided No 8.
If Arteta wishes to persist with the 4-3-3 system he has used in all 79 Premier League games since the start of the 2022/23 season, according to Opta, and assuming Odegaard is unavailable as well as Rice, he will need to fill not one but two No 8 roles.
Leandro Trossard is one option, with Gabriel Martinelli and the newly-signed Raheem Sterling able to step in for him on the left wing, while Havertz is perhaps a more obvious one given he played more than half of his Premier League minutes as a No 8 last season.
Moving Havertz, though, is complicated by several factors, the first being the importance of his contribution up front.
The 25-year-old has 10 goals and seven assists in 15 Premier League starts as a striker for Arsenal and produced arguably his best display yet in the role in their 3-2 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, scoring one goal, setting up another and providing an effective outlet for long passes with his aerial and hold-up ability.
Such an outlet can be invaluable against a side who press as aggressively as Spurs and Arsenal do not possess another striker with Havertz's physical attributes.
Having sold Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace, their only other natural option in the No 9 role is Gabriel Jesus, who has not featured in almost a month due to a groin injury.
Arteta could alternatively turn to one of his academy graduates, with Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly both having joined the first-team squad following impressive pre-seasons. But handing a full debut to a 17-year-old in such a big game would be a huge call.
His other option is to change his system. Could Arteta's absentee list tempt him to use a double pivot in central midfield, switching from his favoured 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1? It would represent a big departure from his preferred formation but his hand may be forced.
Such a change would allow him to incorporate Jorginho, his only other experienced and available midfield option, alongside Partey. But Arteta has also spoken about Jurrien Timber's ability to play in midfield. Oleksandr Zinchenko may be another option given he plays there regularly for Ukraine.
Regardless of how they line up, what seems certain is that Arsenal will miss Rice, whose athleticism and ball-winning ability are unrivalled. Odegaard, as the side's main source of creativity and a considerable goal threat in his own right, would be an equally big loss.
Rotation challenge
Arteta will be grateful to have Rice back for the game against Atalanta. But in order to keep his side fresh for the trip to the Etihad Stadium, he will need to factor in rotation too.
Arteta leaned heavily on his regular starters last season, his reluctance to deviate from his preferred personnel evident in the fact that Arsenal made the second-fewest line-up changes in the Premier League over the course of the campaign, at 63.
In Saliba, Rice, Odeagaard, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White and Saka, Arsenal had six players who played at least 2,900 minutes last season to City's one, in Rodri. The result was that Pep Guardiola's players stayed fresher for longer in the title race.
While Arsenal's most important players were overused, others, by contrast, did not get used enough, with nine squad members playing fewer than 800 Premier League minutes.
Arteta has allowed many of those players to leave, Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson included. But having a smaller squad, like Guardiola at City, depends on minutes being distributed more evenly. These games will test Arteta's willingness to do that.
Arsenal's summer signings were intended, in part, to add necessary depth to facilitate more rotation. It is unfortunate that Merino won't be able to help against Spurs, Atalanta and Manchester City. But Calafiori is working to be fit for the Spurs game and Sterling is available. Timber effectively counts as a new signing too having missed last season with an ACL injury.
Arteta will need to make use of his whole squad this time around and pragmatism will be also required when it comes to his priorities if he is to navigate Arsenal's next three fixtures successfully.
Arsenal have eight 'league phase' games in the re-formatted Champions League this season. Plenty of opportunities, in other words, to make up for any possible slip-up against Atalanta on Thursday. They only get two chances, though, to take points off Manchester City in the title race.
The importance of the meetings with City was hammered home at the Etihad Stadium last season, when a goalless draw that looked a good result at the time ended up costing them the title.
And as if beating Guardiola's side on their own patch is not hard enough, Arteta must first steer Arsenal through the first of two other away games with depleted options and little margin for error.
Seven games in 21 days - Arsenal's fixture list
September 15: Tottenham (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 2pm
September 19: Atalanta (A), Champions League, kick-off 8pm
September 22: Man City (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm
September 25: Bolton (H), Carabao Cup third round, live on Sky Sports+, kick-off 7.45pm
September 28: Leicester (H), Premier League, kick-off 3pm
October 1: Paris Saint-Germain (H), Champions League, kick-off 8pm
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is a doubt for Sunday's North London derby having been pictured using crutches to board a plane to London after injuring his ankle in action for Norway.
A distraught Odegaard needed help leaving the pitch and had to be substituted after turning his ankle during the second half of Norway's Nations League win over Austria in Oslo on Monday night.
Norway head coach Stale Solbakken told broadcaster TV2: "It looked bad in the dressing room too."
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Team doctor Ola Sand initially described the injury as a "small ankle sprain", later adding to Norwegian outlet VG that the midfielder will undergo an MRI scan at Arsenal.
Arsenal plan to assess Odegaard on Tuesday, after he has flown back to London, but he looks doubtful for the game against Tottenham, live on Sky Sports. The photographs of him using crutches, published by VG, raise fears of a lengthy absence.
Riccardo Calafiori also suffered an injury during the international break, hurting his ankle in Italy's Nations League game against France on Friday, but the defender is already back in London and working to be ready for Sunday's game.
Odegaard's injury is a bigger concern and leaves Mikel Arteta facing the possibility of being denied his entire first-choice midfield for the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
New signing Mikel Merino fractured his shoulder in his first training session for the club and is not expected to debut before October, while Declan Rice is suspended due to his peculiar dismissal against Brighton.
Odegaard's injury could not be worse timed. Arsenal start their Champions League campaign at Atalanta on Thursday night before facing a quick turnaround to play at Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Arteta now faces a dilemma around how to configure his midfield on Sunday. Leandro Trossard could be redeployed, as could Kai Havertz, but the latter option may depend on the availability of Gabriel Jesus, who has not featured since the opening day of the season due to a groin problem.
Raheem Sterling could be drafted in on the left wing for his debut if Trossard is moved. Arsenal's only other experienced options in midfield are Thomas Partey and Jorginho, although Arteta could turn to youth, in Ethan Nwaneri or Myles Lewis-Skelly, or redeploy a defender such as Oleksandr Zinchenko or Jurrien Timber.
'You have to deal with injuries'
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith to Sky Sports News:
"Martin Odegaard would be a huge loss against Spurs, of course it would, but these things do happen. You've got to cope with it.
"Arsenal were hardly without him last season. More often than not he was there pulling the strings.
"He is such an important player for the team in terms of what he creates. He always wants the ball and can get Arsenal on the front foot really quickly.
"Hopefully the injury is not too bad. You can imagine Mikel Arteta seeing the pictures of him limping off, especially with Declan Rice suspended for the trip to Tottenham as well.
"Two of his three midfielders may not be there for such a huge game, but you have to deal with things like this and that is why every manager wants a big and strong squad. "
Why Arsenal cannot afford to lose Odegaard
Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:
Arsenal have one player in the team they cannot afford to be without and that is captain Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian midfielder is the heartbeat of the team and his world-class levels both with and without the ball are not only crucial to Mikel Arteta's side, but also impossible to find elsewhere in the team.
Odegaard was the most creative player in the Premier League last season, with the Arsenal captain topping the expected assist tally of 11.17. The only player who got close to that mark was team-mate Bukayo Saka, who got 11.
But it is his role in Arsenal's pressing is where Odegaard is so vital. No player won more possessions in the final third than him last season, while only five players have managed more pressures leading to a turnover than the Gunners midfielder.
More worryingly, Arsenal have a serious midfield crisis going into Sunday's North London derby at Tottenham, live on Sky Sports. Mikel Merino is out for a while with a fractured shoulder, while Declan Rice is suspended for the game after his red card against Brighton.
With Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira allowed to leave in the transfer window, it leaves Arsenal worryingly short in central midfield. Thomas Partey - not always reliable fitness-wise himself - is now a guaranteed starter. Arteta must pick who out of Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard could play alongside him in the No 8 role if Odegaard ends up on the absentee list.
The Arsenal manager could also turn to youth, with Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly - both yet to make a Premier League start for the Gunners - impressing in pre-season. Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko also have midfield experience in their careers and often end up in that area of the pitch as inverted full-backs.
But it is not an ideal situation for Arsenal, who have three busy away trips to Spurs, Atalanta and then Man City in their first seven days after the international break.
They have already dropped points to Brighton this season and may not want any more slip-ups in this unforgiving title race with Man City.
Seven games in 21 days - Arsenal's busy month ahead
September 15: Tottenham (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 2pm
September 19: Atalanta (A), Champions League, kick-off 8pm
September 22: Man City (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm
September 25: Bolton (H), Carabao Cup third round, live on Sky Sports+, kick-off 7.45pm
September 28: Leicester (H), Premier League, kick-off 3pm
October 1: Paris Saint-Germain (H), Champions League, kick-off 8pm
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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher is back to assess the controversial moments from the weekend's action.
Should Declan Rice have been sent off?
INCIDENT: Declan Rice fouls Joel Veltman and as he is walking away from the incident, kicks the moving ball gently.
Veltman moves as if to take the free-kick and makes contact with Rice instead, bringing him down. Rice is shown a second yellow card for time-wasting.
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DERMOT SAYS: "The players were told at the start of the season that if you delay the restart, you run the risk [of a booking], it was quite clear.
"You think someone else should've got a yellow card, but that doesn't exonerate what he did.
"Two things don't help him. He knows what he's doing, and secondly the touchline - people say he didn't knock it very far, but he knocks it off the field and so they definitely can't restart play.
"Chris Kavanagh has got nowhere to go. The second yellow is mandatory."
STEPHEN WARNOCK SAYS: "Don't give the referee the decision. I don't like it, I don't think it warrants a yellow card, but it does under the laws of the game.
"It's stupid, as well. He knows exactly what he's doing, people might not think he's done it on purpose but of course he has. Don't give the referee the option when you're on a yellow card. Veltman knows too - you know exactly who's been booked in a game."
SUE SMITH SAYS: "I don't like it and I don't think the referee liked doing it. I don't think he wanted to do it, but those are the rules.
"Rice did know what he was doing. He looks down on the ball before he kicks it away. I can understand the frustration, but they have been briefed and he's stopped them playing."
Should Leicester's goal have been disallowed?
INCIDENT: Jamie Vardy sees a goal ruled out after the ball hits referee David Coote in the build-up.
DERMOT SAYS: "He's getting battered for something that's not his fault. The law says if you play the ball from player to player, you play on.
"If it goes to an opposition player, you pull up. But it also says you can't be instrumental in an attacking move.
"It deflects off the referee and sets a Leicester player up. He whistles early, the whistle is long gone [when the goal is scored]."
STEPHEN WARNOCK SAYS: "It's a great decision. The ball would never have gone in that direction.
"You see the Villa players' response; they've already stopped. It's a really good decision, and how the Leicester players are moaning at it is beyond me."
Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool
INCIDENT #1: The ball hits Mo Salah, in an offside position, in the build-up to what appears to be Liverpool's opener at Man Utd on Super Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's celebrations are cut short after VAR rule Salah was offside and disallows his goal.
DERMOT SAYS: "Right call and a good spot. Someone asked whether he deliberately played it - that doesn't matter, he played it, it went to a colleague who scored. It's offside."
INCIDENT #2: Matthijs de Ligt flies in on Luis Diaz on the flank in Liverpool's win at Old Trafford, and is shown a yellow card.
DERMOT SAYS: "It's a yellow card. The ref has a great view and plays a really good advantage.
"You've always got to leave the ground for a really small time to make a slide-tackle. Has he gone with his trailing leg, has he gone with his studs up - no."
INCIDENT #3: Noussair Mazraoui steps on Cody Gakpo's foot just inside the Man Utd penalty area late in their Liverpool defeat. The referee waves play on, and VAR declines to intervene.
DERMOT SAYS: "The referee makes the decision, he's very close when it happens. There is a touch, he does step on his foot.
"Does he do that because he's put it in front of him? On-field call, you're never going to have the VAR go against him because he's got the best view."
Was Hughes lucky to not pick up a second yellow?
INCIDENT: Will Hughes, already on a yellow card, commits a number of fouls culminating in a late challenge on Cole Palmer in Crystal Palace's draw at Chelsea.
He does not receive a second booking, and is, soon after, substituted by Oliver Glasner.
DERMOT SAYS: "In my day we had Mark Clattenberg, who would've set him up after the first [foul], pulled him out and said 'You've done this, you've done this - the next one, you go'. There was a catalogue.
"What saves Hughes is he almost panics to let go of him very quickly, and there's a Palace player who's going to block him off anyway, so the ref will say he hasn't broken up a promising attack.
"I think he gets lucky, because the bench subbed him a minute later - that tells you everything. If he had gone, he would've had no complaints."
Our football betting expert Jones Knows is back to provide his insight and best angles on every Premier League game...
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Sunday 1.30pm
I'm very keen to oppose Chelsea here at 4/7 with Sky Bet but finding a sensible betting strategy to attack has proven difficult. That's due to the prospect of Chelsea being able to run hot at any point, like their whirlwind second-half goal rush at Wolves last weekend. It's therefore difficult to simply play the Palace double chance or try and get them onside in a handicap.
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I've decided to back the both teams to score and over 2.5 goals angle at 4/5, as if Palace keep constructing their attacks like they have done against Brentford and West Ham, goals are going to fall their way.
Since beating Liverpool, Oliver Glasner's team have only failed to score once in their last 10 games. That came last weekend against the Hammers but Palace still created 1.53 worth of expected goals. They can help add to the scoring in what should be a lively game.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2 | JONES KNOWS' BEST BET: Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals (4/5 with Sky Bet - part of 11/2 weekend treble!)
Newcastle vs Tottenham, Sunday 1.30pm, live on Sky Sports
It's a shame the market is completely aligned with my theory of this being a goal-fest - and one that Tottenham stand a fair chance of winning. The last seven meetings between these two teams in the Premier League have produced 34 goals to an average of 4.9 per game, with Newcastle winning the last two games at St James' Park by an aggregate 10-1 scoreline.
I'd be very surprised if we see anything like that one-sided encounter as Spurs look in a good, consistent place while Newcastle are still searching for the right balance in defence. Eddie Howe knows that remains a weakness, hence why he's been desperate to land Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
The price doesn't appeal enough to make it an official play but Spurs to win and over 2.5 goals should give punters a good run at 9/4 with Sky Bet.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-3
Manchester United vs Liverpool, Sunday 4pm, live on Sky Sports
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Ryan Gravenberch helping Arne Slot at No 6 - The Radar
If you're of the persuasion that not that much has changed under Erik ten Hag since last season then the underlying statistics from the two Premier League meetings between United and Liverpool have to come into your thinking when making a decision on how this encounter will go.
The aggregate score over the two games may have read 2-2 (0-0 at Anfield and 2-2 at Old Trafford) yet Liverpool won the shot count (62-12), corner count (23-6), expected goals battle (6.06-1.4) and had more touches in the opposition box (109-29). The 17/20 with Sky Bet on the away win is going to lure many in based on those numbers.
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A quirk regarding the Arne Slot era so far has been the dramatic contrast between halves, with Liverpool creating significantly more after the break with just 0.81 worth of expected goals in the first half and 4.5 in the second.
He may want to turn this into another 45-minute match where Liverpool keep things very controlled and quiet by negating United's weapons on the counter-attack. If so, a low scoring first half could play out and the 3/1 with Sky Bet for the game to be 0-0 at the break looks interesting.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2