Arsenal expert Charles Watts believes that the return of one key defender from injury will be "crucial" to the Gunners' hopes of reeling in Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
Mikel Arteta has seldom had all of his options at his disposal this season, and the Emirates infirmary currently holds all of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney and Riccardo Calafiori.
The latter had begun to flourish in a left-back role before hurting his knee against Shakhtar Donetsk in October's 1-0 Champions League win, but there is optimism that he will return straight after the November international break.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Watts explained what had been lacking for Arsenal on the left-hand side in the absence of Calafiori, whose spot has been filled by Jurrien Timber - a right-back by trade - during his layoff.
"It is looking much better, the injury situation," Watts said. "They're still missing Calafiori and I think that is key. Timber's done a great job on the left-hand side, but he is a right back and [Gabriel] Martinelli is often very isolated on the left-hand side because he's not got a fullback who is either, in Calafiori's case, I was going to say going on the overlap, but Calafiori sort of inverts and comes into the central area, but he's still a really key figure down that left-hand side.
"Timber does it every so often, but normally stays back because he's not that comfortable going on his left foot. So I think his return will be crucial for Arsenal as well, and that should be fingers crossed after the international break."
Calafiori already a fundamental figure for Arsenal
Arriving from Bologna in a deal that could fetch up to £41.6m in the summer, Calafiori excelled centrally for the Serie A side as they unexpectedly qualified for the Champions League, but he was unsurprisingly not able to displace Gabriel Magalhaes or William Saliba in the centre-back roles at Arsenal.
Instead, the Italy international has become Arteta's first-choice left-back, making 10 appearances in all competitions and scoring a peach of a goal against Manchester City in September's 2-2 draw.
Calafiori is thought to be on track to return against Nottingham Forest on November 23, and Watts expects Saka and Rice to also make imminent comebacks against the Tricky Trees after their withdrawals from the England squad.
"It is looking much, much better, the injury outlook. We'll wait and see on Saka and Rice," Watts added. "Obviously they're not linking up with England. I don't think that was ever going to happen. I have to say it was always the case of get through the Chelsea game and they're not going to be going away with England.
"You would think they'll be right after international break. That team is looking a lot stronger, the strongest it has done all season, which is massive. And Mikel said it in a press conference after Chelsea, all he wants at the end of this break is to have a fully fit squad to be able to use for the first time this season and then to really try and put a run together."
Why Arsenal are still in the title race despite nine-point chasm
© Imago
Calafiori's last Premier League appearance came in October's 2-0 loss to Bournemouth, since when Arsenal have only taken two points from nine available against Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
The Gunners' mediocre form has allowed Liverpool to steer nine points clear of Arteta's side at the top of the Premier League table, but Watts highlighted Arsenal's exceptional top-flight record from the second half of last season as a reason why the North London giants are not out of the running yet.
"They showed at the second half of last season, the winning run that they went on, 16 out of 18 games, I think it was the only draw was Man City and then that costly defeat against Aston Villa. So they know this team can go on and run like that," Watts said.
"And they can do it. When you look at the fixtures, it's entirely possible. It's tough. It's the Premier League. No games are given. Look what happened with Tottenham and Ipswich.
"The biggest home banker you're probably ever going to see and it goes the other way. So you've still got to go and get the job done. But Arsenal are certainly looking in a much better position to go and do that now for the first time this season."
Watts also gave his verdict on the importance of Martin Odegaard's return to the Arsenal side, admitting that the finger can be pointed at two names who failed to adequately prepare for the possibility of losing their captain to injury.
Ben Knapton
