Mikel Arteta will be faced with a difficult team selection headache for next week's trip to Chelsea following Bukayo Saka's recent injury picked up in Arsenal's 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Saka has played in every match across all competitions for the Gunners this season, scoring five goals and providing four assists. He returned to Arteta's side on Sunday after Forest after dropping to the bench for the midweek Europa League defeat to PSV but he could be a doubt heading into November.
The Gunners forward was on the end of a couple of innocuous challenges in the early encounters against Forest and received treatment on two occasions from club physio Simon Murphy before being replaced by Reiss Nelson after 27 minutes. Arteta played down the severity of the injury in his post-match press conference amid fear he may miss next month's World Cup.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta provides Arsenal Bukayo Saka injury update after World Cup scare in Forest victory
Arsenal have four more games remaining before they put a halt to their 2022/23 season and Arteta may have to delve into his squad depth over November as a result of Saka's absence. One man who may benefit from the alternative team selection is Sunday's Man of the Match - Reiss Nelson.
The winger was handed his first Premier League appearance by Arteta against Steve Cooper's men and repaid his manager's faith with two goals in three second half minutes. The Hale End academy product had missed the start of the season due to injury and is currently in the final 12 months of his deal in north London.
On the back of his impressive outing against Forest, Nelson stands in good stead to replace Saka for a like-for-like change ahead of next weekend's crunch clash at Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.
However, Arteta does have an alternative to select should he choose to. A few weeks back, Eddie Nketiah started alongside Gabriel Jesus in attack in the 1-0 win over PSV. Jesus' natural ability to play out on the right would provide Nketiah the chance to start in the No. 9 role.
Whilst they will be facing a different Chelsea side under Graham Potter, Arteta can take confidence from last season's 4-2 win in west London in which Nketiah started and netted two goals. Arsenal and Nketiah were firing on all cylinders in April, but the striker has struggled to make an impact when called upon so far this season.
The Gunners are in action prior to the trip to Stamford Bridge, on Thursday against FC Zurich, providing Arteta the opportunity to test the waters of his game plan for the weekend. The Gunners have already secured their spot in the knockout stages of the competition but are yet to confirm themselves as group winners following PSV's victory on Thursday.
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