Mikel Arteta faces Arsenal midfield headache ahead of Tottenham battle
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is facing a key selection call ahead of their return to Premier League action at Tottenham on September 15.
The Gunners slipped to a 1-1 EPL weekend draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion over the weekend with Declan Rice dismissed in the second period.
The England international was controversially sent off for a second booking, for blocking a quickly taken free kick from the Seagulls, with the match officials criticised after the game by Arteta.
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Arsenal will not appeal against the automatic one-game ban incurred by Rice and he will miss out against rivals Spurs on their return of domestic action.
Arteta has stuck with a largely unchanged starting XI in the first three matches of the campaign, with Rice one of nine players to start in all three, but a change is incoming.
Italian international Jorginho has not played a minute of EPL action so far this season, but he is the most likely candidate to replace Rice, with Thomas Partey’s role tweaked as a result.
Kai Havertz could also drop in from attack, with the German star previously covering in midfield, with new signing Raheem Sterling potentially making his club debut.
