Arsenal FC: Mikel Arteta enters uncharted territory as summer transfers provide selection headache

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Arsenal: Mikel Arteta enters uncharted territory as summer transfers provide selection headache

Mikel Arteta has the luxury of rotating his Arsenal squad for two games in a week as a big summer transfer window has provided real strength in depth

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Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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In the past, the prospect of two games a week would have been enough to give Mikel Arteta a headache.

That may well still be the case, but this time the cause of any selection headache is far different to previous seasons.

Arsenal’s £250million summer spend and the arrival of eight new signings has given Arteta unprecedented depth.

The extent of that was reinforced last weekend, when Ethan Nwaneri travelled to Newcastle for the game at St. James’ Park - but did not even make the bench.

The 18-year-old will not be the last to suffer that fate given the options available to Arteta, and in fact, the Arsenal boss made a point of telling his squad exactly that back in the summer.

“I talked to all the players and we had a meeting specifically about that and the scenarios that we’re going to have throughout the season,” said Arteta.

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“Some of them are going to start, some of them are going to finish the game, some of them are going to be on the bench and don’t be participating - and some of them unfortunately are going to be out of the squad because with the Premier League you have a limitation with the numbers.

Ethan Nwaneri started against Port Vale but was left out of the squad against Newcastle

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“Sometimes we have to travel more players because things can happen, somebody can get ill or we have a doubt with somebody whether the next one is going to be available to play and unfortunately we have to do that.

“But the attitude of every player - because we have explained them and personally they know how we feel about it - has been really good and they will have the chances to play.”

Arsenal’s new squad depth is why tonight’s tie with Olympiacos feels so valuable.

Arteta has spoken about giving players “chances to play” and this looks like a prime one against a side the Gunners should beat.

There may not be the nine changes that Arteta made for Arsenal’s last midweek match - a trip to Port Vale in the Carabao Cup - but rotation should be on the cards.

Nwaneri will hope to come into the team and so will his fellow academy graduate, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Ben White may replace Jurrien Timber at right-back, while Gabriel Martinelli is a contender to play on the left flank after strong showings off the bench.

Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino could be brought into the midfield if Arteta decides to give Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi the night off.

“They (Olympiacos) have a really good side and they have a really, really good manager, which I have known since I was 13 because he was my coach at that period,” said Arteta.

“I know how he works, I know how efficient he is in what he does. That’s why I’m saying that tomorrow is going to be a really tough match.”

Mikel Arteta has plenty to ponder ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League tie

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The luxury of having so many options is uncharted territory for Arteta, who had to manage a crippling injury crisis last season.

The Spaniard has previously been averse to rotation and, during Arsenal’s first title charge under him in the 22-23 season, he made just 38 changes to his starting line-up in the Premier League. Arteta also named an unchanged side on 13 occasions - the most in Arsenal’s history in the competition.

A repeat of such a situation is unthinkable now, with the calendar more congested than ever and Arsenal also fighting on four fronts for silverware.

The challenge for Arteta is finding out the best way to rotate his team, keeping everyone happy and fit for the crunch part of the campaign.

How he handles that could decide whether Arsenal’s depth becomes their biggest strength - or their toughest test.

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