Three Arsenal issues Mikel Arteta must solve ahead of Nottingham Forest after yet further injury

Arsenal return to Premier League action this week hoping to restore themselves to winning ways after a torrid time of late. Winless in the last four matches has seen

This will be a big week for Mikel Arteta as he continues to work with the players that have been left behind by their nations, those The Spaniard will certainly welcome them with open arms considering the issues his side have suffered.

With that in mind, football.london have looked into the three main puzzles that Arteta needs to solve come the weekend and the visit of high-flying Nottingham Forest.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Back to winning ways

Win the next game. Such a simple thing yet quite complicated for Arteta especially considering just how many league matches his side have gone without managing to pick up those elusive three points.

Arteta has never been one to look too far ahead and always likes to keep him team firmly on the ground, focused solely on that next game. Pick up a win and the weight that will lift from his players, the fans and himself will be monumental.

Being back at the Emirates Stadium for the first time in five matches will also be a welcome boost. The crowd, starved of domestic football for a fortnight will be there to cheer the players on and should Arteta succeed then it will be a step in the right direction and hopefully the start of a run.

An unfortunate absence

Ben White is understood by football.london to have undergone a minor procedure to fix issues plaguing him throughout the season. It does mean however the club are expected to miss White for an unknown amount of time as he goes through his rehabilitation.

In his absence, Arteta will need to solve the riddle of the right-hand side. Thankfully, he has a couple of pieces to consider with Jurrien Timber in the side and hopefully the return of Takehiro Tomiyasu after the break as well.

Riccardo Calafiori is also due back which will help in seeing Timber’s presence on the left replaced. Yet players like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly need to step up over the festive period too.

Left-hand side failings

Speaking of players on the left flank, it has been here where Arsenal have looked the least threatening. Be that due to Gabriel Martinelli’s inconsistent form, the various left-backs used this season because of injury or Mikel Merino’s slow transition into the side, it has not been smooth.

Arteta needs to find a way to get the left flank to click because with Martin Odegaard back, the right is well set – even in White’s absence – to flourish again. Martinelli or Leandro Trossard need to step up as does Merino or perhaps Declan Rice. Whatever the combination, it is paramount that some consistent deliverance of quality is found.