Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has admitted that the Gunners need to prove that they are ready to rise up to the challenge of missing key players like other top teams.
Arsenal are considered one of the top contenders to challenge Manchester City’s dominance this season after back-to-back second-place finishes.
The Gunners are sitting fourth in the table on seven points and are preparing for the first north London derby of the season at Tottenham on Sunday.
Ahead of the big game, Arsenal have been hamstrung by the absences of Declan Rice, who is suspended for the game, and club captain Martin Odegaard, who picked up an ankle injury on international duty.
Some have already predicted that the absence of the duo does narrow the gap between the two north London sides ahead of the big derby.
Fabregas feels Arsenal need to rise up to the challenge of missing big players
The former Arsenal star conceded that Arteta would have preferred to have the two players in the team for the big game this weekend given their importance to the team.
However, he pointed out that other top teams also miss big players from time to time and they find a way to get by those tough spells through the strength of their squad.
He admitted that it is hard to imagine an Arsenal team without Rice and Odegaard but the rest of the players need to step up to the challenge and prove their title credentials.
“No coach likes it when you miss one or two of the most important players in your team”, former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas told the Planet Premier League podcast.
“When Manchester City or Liverpool miss top players they still deal with it in the best manner but not really missing them and Arsenal need to get to this level as well.
“I can’t remember an Arsenal game in the last two or three seasons without Odegaard in the team and more recently Rice.
“They are important players but big teams are made of big squads and they will need to prove they are ready to challenge the difficult moments as well.”
