Arsenal have just TWO midfielders – including teen Charlie Patino – fit for Liverpool with Arteta in race to save season

ARSENAL are dealing with a midfield dilemma forward of their most essential week of the season to this point.

And the choice to permit Ainsley Maitland-Niles to affix Roma on mortgage has already backfired, after Granit Xhaka examined constructive for Covid on the weekend.

Mikel Arteta was fuming as Arsenal have been dumped out of the FA CupCredit score: AFP

Charlie Patino made his first Gunners begin towards ForestCredit score: AFP

Which means Albert Sambi Lokonga, 22, and 18-year-old rookie Charlie Patino would be the solely central midfield gamers out there for Thursday’s journey to Liverpool for the delayed first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Boss Mikel Arteta is already sweating on Xhaka recovering from his second bout of the virus in time for Sunday’s essential North London derby at Spurs.

The 29-year-old Xhaka, who refused to be vaccinated earlier than he examined constructive whereas on worldwide obligation with Switzerland final September, is at present in isolation together with striker Folarin Balogun, 20.

And despite the fact that he's due out of quarantine earlier than the weekend, he could have missed a full week’s coaching earlier than the sport towards Spurs, who're two locations under Arteta’s facet in sixth.

However with Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny away on the Africa Cup of Nations, Arteta is desperately hoping to strengthen his squad with an emergency mortgage signing.

He is aware of it's essential for his staff to carry their nerve after back-to-back defeats to Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League and Nottingham Forest within the FA Cup.

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However with the Spurs recreation sandwiched between the 2 legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final, the following ten days may have an enormous bearing on the Gunners’ ambitions to win a trophy and safe a top-four end.

Arteta was deeply unimpressed by his gamers’ efforts throughout Sunday’s shock Cup exit.

Nobody struggled greater than Patino, who was substituted 21 minutes from the top of his first begin for the membership.

Now Arteta desires to guard the promising teenager from unrealistic expectations at such a vital stage of his profession.

And he will probably be reluctant to incorporate Patino within the beginning line-up at Anfield on Thursday with a lot at stake. That would imply Martin  Odegaard dropping right into a deeper position or a defender, equivalent to Ben White or Calum Chambers,  shifting into midfield.

However neither answer can be good, inflicting even higher dismay over the timing of Maitland-Niles’ departure to Roma.

Arteta had been extraordinarily reluctant to permit the England worldwide to depart till the top of the month due to considerations over a scarcity of canopy.

However each Maitland-Niles and Roma boss Jose Mourinho made it clear they weren't ready to attend — and now Arteta’s worst fears have been realised.

So as to add insult to harm, central midfielders Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira have additionally been loaned out by Arsenal and can have to be bought to fund any potential new signings.

Arteta spoke of his midfield points final week and claimed: “We're going to search for choices as a result of we're very quick there.”

However he appeared much less optimistic after Sunday’s setback, admitting: “I feel it’s clear the place we have to strengthen however in the intervening time we have now to attempt to get the most effective out of the gamers we have now.”

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Ainsley Maitland-Niles made his Roma debut on the weekendCredit score: Alamy