'If we're totally honest right now': Ian Wright says there's something about Arsenal that's worrying him
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Arsenal have managed to successfully navigate three difficult away trips in a row following the international break.
The Gunners were up against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, before then heading to Atalanta in the Champions League.
And then, Arsenal had to take on Manchester City at the Etihad – all without captain Martin Odegaard, who is on the sidelines with an injury.
But despite this, the Gunners were able to beat Spurs before claiming draws against La Dea and the Citizens.
Although there has been some criticism over how Arsenal played against Man City, Ian Wright made one point very clear.
Ian Wright says Arsenal don’t have anyone like Martin Odegaard in their squad
Wright, speaking on the Wrighty’s House podcast, explained just how much Arsenal were missing Odegaard, and gave a brutally honest verdict about the squad without him.
“Those three away games that we had, no Odegaard,” said Wright. “Remember, that’s our guy, that’s our control.
“We haven’t got him, so what we’re doing at the moment, we’re finding other ways to try to create and do what Odegaard does.
“I don’t think – if we’re totally honest right now – in that squad we’ve got anyone else that can come in and help us with our creativity like he does.
"So for me, that game against City, I'm sure Odegaard wouldn't have been taken off.
"I think if Odegaard is playing, I don't think we play with just 10 men back like that, we will have some form of creative outlet in respects of that. So Mikel had to do deal with what he had to deal with."
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The youngsters who could replace Odegaard in Arsenal XI
Arsenal may well rue having sold Emile Smith Rowe this summer, as he would’ve almost certainly stepped up as Odegaard’s replacement.
Likewise, Fabio Vieira might’ve been given a chance, but at the same time, it didn’t look as though he was quite ready for an extended spell in Arsenal’s XI.
With that in mind, Ethan Nwaneri could potentially be fast-tracked into the Gunners starting line-up, at least against Bolton.
Myles Lewis-Skelly could also come in. As per 90Min, he is ‘perhaps the more natural replacement for Odegaard of the pair’, having been compared to Jack Wilshere.
However, as good as they are, putting so much responsibility on one or two young and inexperienced players in the challenging and unforgiving environs of the Premier League might be too much of a risk.
