Mikel Arteta nightmare presents huge opportunity for four Arsenal stars to make statement

Arsenal kick off their Champions League campaign against Atalanta this week, but it could hardly have arrived at a more inconvenient time. The 1,600-mile round trip from north London to Bergamo comes just three days before Mikel Arteta must prepare his players for the toughest match of their Premier League season – a trip to defending champions Manchester City.

And the Gunners’ squad is stretched thinly as it is.

Injuries to Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard have depleted Arteta’s midfield, while the long list of defensive casualties includes Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney.

Sending out a competitive team of players in such close proximity to the upcoming City showdown is a nightmare situation for Arteta. He will have no choice but to rotate after a taxing north London derby win over Tottenham on Sunday.

But the manager’s headache is a big opportunity for those currently on the fringes of his starting XI. Four in particular, who are already knocking on the door, will be praying for a show of faith from Arteta this week.

Raheem Sterling has a point to prove after being tossed aside by Chelsea, and he will surely be desperate to show supporters what he can still do after a quiet 10-minute cameo in the north London derby.

Gabriel Martinelli currently lays claim to the left-wing starting spot, but he could do with a rest. Alternatively, Sterling could step in for Bukayo Saka on the right after he limped off against Spurs, with Arteta yet to learn the extent of any potential damage.

Also waiting for his next opportunity is Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian could help fill in on the flanks against Atalanta if Martinelli and Saka both drop out, or revert back to his old centre-forward role if Kai Havertz is rested.

Ethan Nwaneri is only 17 years old but he, too, is knocking on the door of more regular first-team action. The midfielder came on in the dying embers of Sunday’s derby, which may have been a precursor to a higher level of responsibility in Europe. Nwaneri was not named in Arsenal’s Champions League squad but, as an Under-21 player, he is able to feature on their B List under UEFA regulations.

Though a threadbare squad limits the number of positions in which Arteta can rest players, the availability of Jakub Kiwior may allow Jurrien Timber to rest his legs after a mammoth performance against Spurs.

The Dutchman has only been back for a few months after a long-term injury and Kiwior, along with Sterling, Jesus and Nwaneri, could be about to pounce on Arteta’s need to preserve his most important stars.