Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is wrestling with a significant selection puzzle involving star winger Bukayo Saka ahead of a crucial Premier League trip to face Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Right-Wing Conundrum for Arteta
Despite returning from a hamstring issue to spearhead the Gunners' attack, Saka's place is under scrutiny due to the impressive form of summer signing Noni Madueke. Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has highlighted this as a key dilemma for the league leaders.
"I feel Arsenal have a little bit of a conundrum because Madueke is playing really well and Saka is their best player," Richards stated on The Rest Is Football podcast. He suggested the team has become overly reliant on Saka's output from the right flank, calling for other attackers like Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli to match his contribution.
High-Stakes Trip to Merseyside
The match carries major implications for the title race. Arsenal, who have lost only two league games this season, currently sit top but could be overtaken by the time they kick off at 5:30 PM. Second-place Manchester City, just two points behind, play earlier on Saturday afternoon.
Arteta's side narrowly defeated Wolves in their last outing thanks to a 94th-minute own goal from Yerson Mosquera, underlining the need for a more convincing performance on Merseyside.
Everton's Injury Concerns
The Toffees face their own potential setback, with influential midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a major doubt. The summer signing, who has scored four goals and provided three assists this term, limped off with hamstring tightness during Everton's recent loss to Chelsea.
Manager David Moyes confirmed the injury blow, noting that losing Dewsbury-Hall disrupted his team for a significant period during that match. Winger Jack Grealish is also nursing a minor hamstring issue, compounding Moyes's selection problems ahead of the leaders' visit.
With the Premier League summit at stake and key players on both sides facing fitness tests, Saturday's encounter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium is poised to be a pivotal moment in the season for Arsenal and their title aspirations.
