Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta continues to sweat over the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard ahead of Sunday's Premier League tie with Liverpool at Anfield.
The Norwegian has not trained since picking up a shoulder injury in last weekend's5-0 victory over Leeds United, although he has been selected for international duty next month.
However, Arteta admitted at his press conference that a late decision would have to be made on his skipper, and given that Odegaard is yet to practice with the team this week, an appearance from the first whistle is looking increasingly unlikely.
Odegaard's likely absence means that a fascinating fight should ensue between Ethan Nwaneri and Eberechi Eze for the captain's role, and there is nothing stopping the latter from making his debut from the first whistle in that position.
The ex-Crystal Palace attacker is a viable option on the left too, but Gabriel Martinelli enjoys this particular battle; the Brazilian has come up with six goals and two assists from 12 previous clashes with Liverpool in all tournaments.
As a result, Martinelli should join Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka's deputy Noni Madueke in the final third, while Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice link arms with Eze in the midfield triumvirate.
Nwaneri and fellow Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly will likely warm the bench together, as Riccardo Calafiori is excelling as an overlapping left-back and will join Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in front of David Raya again.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this game
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