Arsenal will welcome Gabriel Jesus back very soon but Mikel Arteta will have the tough decision of removing a senior squad member from the matchday selection.
Gabriel Jesus is getting closer to an Arsenal return which would put the club in a very rare position in the context of the past few years. Barring any injury issues in the coming games, touch wood, Jesus’ return to the side would mean the whole senior squad would be available to the manager.
Mikel Arteta has already had to make some tough choices, leaving out Reiss Nelson from the matchday squad for the preview two fixtures after both Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe returned for selection. The return of Jesus means that yet another member of the squad will have to lose their spot as the Brazilian is eased back and eventually either Leandro Trossard or Eddie Nketiah is usurped as the starting centre-forward.
With that in mind, there are a number of candidates on the current bench in danger of losing their Premier League place. football.london has taken a look at the three leading candidates who may see Jesus’ return as not such a positive thing for their chance of game time.
The Scottish international has fallen further and further down the pecking order under Arteta. First Kieran Tierney lost his place to Oleksandr Zinchenko after his arrival from Manchester City in the summer and then Takehiro Tomiyasu has been preferred to him when the Ukrainian is absent.
It is therefore likely that Tierney could lose his place in the squad entirely when Gabriel Jesus returns. With Tomiyasu on the bench, Arteta has his left-back reserve option.
However, what Tierney has in his favour is he is the only traditional offensive-minded full-back in the squad after the departure of Cedric Soares. Tomiyasu’s versatility at right-back and centre-halve might also save him.
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Rob Holding
Speaking of centre-halves, Rob Holding’s future at the club appears to be limited. He has just one year remaining on his deal come the end of the season, although Arsenal do have an option for another season.
The signing of Jakub Kiwior this January has only furthered the competition at centre-half and the aforementioned versatility of Tomiyasu makes Holding somewhat easier to drop out of the squad. However, Holding has the faith of Arteta on his side and the former Bolton man is often called upon when the Gunners are trying to see out a game like against Aston Villa, Manchester United, Brighton, Chelsea, Leeds United and Fulham.
Seven times he’s come on with a few minutes to spare as Arsenal try to hold onto narrow leads in games. It may therefore not yet be time for the Gunners’ key closer to leaving the group just yet in such a pivotal season.
Jakub Kiwior
This, therefore, leaves Kiwior, who ironically could be Holding’s long-term replacement in the group. Signed from Spezia for a fee in excess of £20million, Kiwior is yet to make his debut for the side but the return of Europa League football is likely to be where the Polish international gets his chance.
With this in mind and without any other obvious option to move out unless an injury occurs, Kiwior looks the most likely to lose his spot in the squad. This shouldn’t be a frustration though as after such an investment from the club and his competition, Holding, looking likely to move on this summer, it will only be a matter of time until his minutes in an Arsenal shirt exponentially increase.
source: football.london
