Martin Odegaard's return from injury presents Mikel Arteta with a selection headache, as Eberechi Eze's hat-trick in the north London derby has raised questions over the Arsenal captain's automatic place in the starting XI.
Odegaard is expected to be fit for Saturday's clash with Bayern Munich, following a spell on the sidelines. However, unlike last season when Arteta was forced to change formation during Odegaard's absence, the Gunners have coped better this time, with Eze stepping up.
Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry have both weighed in, with Carragher suggesting Odegaard faces a “real fight” to regain his spot, while Henry noted the “healthy competition” with Eze. Arteta welcomed the challenge, saying: “Players are going to have to merit to play, and the higher the standards, the higher the level of the team.”
Stylistically, the two offer contrasting qualities: Odegaard is a playmaker who completes more passes, while Eze is more direct, taking more shots and sharing the club's top scorer spot in the league. Arteta praised Eze's versatility, saying “it can be right, left, ball on the ground, bouncing ball”.
The pair have started together only twice due to injuries, but Arteta may explore that option, which could provide the perfect solution to what he calls a “positive” dilemma.
