Crisis or common sense? That's the question dominating proceedings following a spate of international withdrawals for Arsenal over the past week or so.
The Gunners saw 11 first-team players pull out of international duty, amid a string of reported injury concerns, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka having been the headline figures from an England perspective.
Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel did admit that so many injuries, all from one club and at the same time, could look "suspicious", albeit with the German firm in his assessment that none of his absent trio were being dishonest.
At a crucial juncture in the season for the Gunners, with Mikel Arteta's men still competing on three fronts, calculated withdrawals would not be a surprise, although regardless of whether these are genuine concerns, the Spaniard has something of a headache to solve, particularly on the right flank.
Arsenal's potential right-wing problem
Injury-related or not, there may well be a reason for Arteta to shuffle his pack for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Southampton, with the forward line still a particular problem in recent weeks and months.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the match
In the case of Saka, the 24-year-old has endured a real decline by his lofty standards, scoring just six Premier League goals all season, having achieved the same tally in the entirety of 2024/25.
From the player who dazzled at Euro 2024, memorably firing England level against Switzerland, the Hale End graduate no longer looks like the main man for either club or country, ensuring Arteta has a real decision to make moving forward.
Saka's England Career
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Nations League
Euros
WC Qualifying
Euro qualifying
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World Cup
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One tweak has been to move Saka into the centre and deploy Madueke off the right, although the ex-Chelsea man - who did limp off against Uruguay last week - hasn't exactly flourished himself, scoring only two leagues goal all season.
Both for Arsenal and the Three Lions, the pair could eventually be usurped by 16-year-old sensation, Max Dowman, yet Arteta rightly appears hesitant to call upon the teenager too regularly, instead easing him into first-team life.
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Having starred against Mansfield Town previously, perhaps the trip to St Mary's might be the opportunity for Dowman to earn another start at senior level. That said, there are alternative options for the Gunners boss to consider.
Arsenal's 'modern-day Ljungberg' could be a right-wing solution
Saturday night's selection will largely depend on fitness, although provided none of the current absentees are hampered too greatly, then Arteta will have a range of candidates to slot in on that right flank.
One option could be to utilise Gabriel Martinelli on that side, although fellow winger, Leandro Trossard, might be the preferred shout, with the Belgian boasting the creative streak that could bring the best out of the man in the centre.
Viktor Gyokeres, off the back of his four goals for Sweden in recent days, is a man who needs service and Trossard, in something of a new role off the right, could well provide that, having contributed nine assists in all competitions this season.
That involvement has typically come from a left-wing berth, or as a false nine, yet the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion man has played on the right in past, making 11 career appearances on that flank to date, as per Transfermarkt.
Having a natural right-footer on the right could help to spark more regular service into the likes of Gyokeres, with Trossard less inclined to cut inside, unlike the aforementioned Saka and Madueke.
Saka-Trossard-Arsenal
In the Premier League last season, for instance, the 31-year-old created 13 'big chances' as a marker of that creative streak, while also averaging a solid 1.1 key passes per game.
With the meeting with Championship opposition next on the cards, it could be the perfect opportunity to trial Trossard in that fresh role, with the clutch forward so often delivering in key games for the Gunners as their "modern-day Freddie Ljungberg", as hailed by reporter James Dodd.
Ljungberg, in his Arsenal pomp, was typically deployed off the right with Robert Pires on the opposite side, albeit while regularly seen making darting runs inside to cause chaos for opposition defenders.
The Swede's directness and dynamism saw him prove highly effective under Arsene Wenger's watch, scoring 72 times in 328 games for the north Londoners across all fronts.
freddie-ljungberg-arsenal
Trossard, another unsung hero at times, is on a similar trajectory with 35 goals in 164 games, having been such an astute signing from the Seagulls.
There is, of course, the concern over his own injury status, having withdrawn from the Belgian camp due to a hip problem, yet Arteta will likely be crossing his fingers that he can unleash his go-to match-winner this weekend.
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