According to reports Mikel Arteta has been ruled out for up to two weeks at the earliest with a sprained ankle.
He limped off during the match against Besiktas in Istanbul after he was tackled by Demba Ba.
He is now expected to miss Arsenal’s match at Goodison Park as well as the return leg of the Champions League play-offs with Besiktas.
What it means is that Arsenal’s central midfield options are being severally tested at the moment.
The effect might not be felt against Everton as Aaron Ramsey is expected to be available for selection.
But Arsene Wenger would have to come up with a new partnership in central midfield against Besiktas with first choice pairing Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey ruled out with injury and suspension.
The former Everton midfielder brings tactical awareness and technical discipline that is absent in Mathieu Flamini’s game.
The Frenchman has an attraction for picking up yellow cards and obviously lacks the tactical awareness and positional sense that Mikel Arteta brings to the side. He does makes up for that with his energy and high tempo game.
With the Spaniard having been ruled out for two weeks or more, some have muted the idea that it is an opportunity for Abou Diaby to come into the side.
Arsene Wenger obviously sees Mathieu Flamini as the back up to Mikel Arteta, however bringing Abou Diaby into the picture at this moment to play a sensitive position as the holding midfield would be a bad decision.
He has been out injured for more than a year. And only featured in two pre-season games this season, and he has not been seen since.
The last time he played in the defensive midfield role was the match against Newcastle at St. James Park in February, 2011 when Arsenal threw away a four goal lead, as Abou Diaby was red carded for retaliating after being targeted by Chieck Tiote.
To bring him into a match at Goodison Park where Arsenal would be facing a high tempo game would be wrong.
Abou Diaby should not be talked up as a possible replacement for anybody in central midfield.
His place in the current squad is unclear as injuries have obviously reduced his chances of playing in certain games.
It remains to be seen how Arsene Wenger approaches the match against Everton at the weekend. The feelers points to Mathieu Flamini starting in the holding midfield role. In the past, that would fill a lot of persons with confidence, but lately the former Marseille youth product’s lack of discipline has become a cause for concern.
What Mikel Arteta’s injury shows is that Arsenal lacks a like-for-like replacement for the Spaniard in the areas of his tactical awareness and the passing he brings to the side.
Most Arsenal attacks are orchestrated by him; the only issue is that his injury creates a headache for Everton, as they would have no focal point to press in the Spaniard’s absence.
