Coach Mikel Arteta is facing a test of the depth and strength of the squad. Martin Odegaard's absence due to injury is certainly a heavy blow to Arsenal's championship hopes. The Norwegian midfielder is not only the captain but also the creative "soul" of the team when reaching his peak form.
But now, Arsenal are facing a big problem as Odegaard is out until at least November due to a knee ligament injury. He could miss up to six games for the Gunners. This is a heavy blow - similar to last season, when Odegaard also had to miss a long time with an ankle injury while on duty for the Norwegian national team.
There is no doubt that Odegaard has had a hard time finding his peak form after last season's injury. And Arsenal fans have only witnessed his brief sparkling moments.
This has led many to question whether the captain's armband is becoming a burden for Odegaard. It is clear through his body language that his confidence has been affected.
It is a pity that Odegaard's difficult start to the season came after an extremely impressive pre-season, when he played with great intensity, sharpness and full of energy. His teammates all felt confident and his form had improved significantly, and he seemed ready to return to his peak.
However, everything changed quickly. First of all, there was a shoulder injury against Leeds, then a relapse against Nottingham Forest and now a knee injury against West Ham.
Arteta may have made mistakes in the past when he hastily brought back key players from injury, but now, The Gunners have a squad that is deep enough to not need to do so anymore. To be fair, Odegaard's latest injury was simply a groin injury. This was a knee ligament injury, not due to his early return or any signs of recurrence before.
However, Odegaard's injury also opens up many new directions for Arsenal. With the Norwegian captain sidelined, Arteta will need to find an alternative in the No. 10 position - where Eberechi Eze and young talent Ethan Nwaneri are considered the two most likely options.
Eze is certainly recruited for his versatility and ability to make breakthroughs in both the centre and left wing positions. Eze has an impressive physical foundation, making him a real threat and also a clear difference from Odegaard, who is more towards sophistication and technique.
The former Crystal Palace player showed some potential against Newcastle. He played very well before Odegaard came on and made a big impact to help Arsenal turn things around.
Meanwhile, Nwaneri is a notable name, with a promising season ahead. Dortmund were eager to sign him last summer, even ready to give him regular playing opportunities.
However, Arsenal have succeeded in keeping this young talent and now, it is important that Nwaneri plays to develop to his full potential.
A year ago, Arsenal were in a state of panic when they lost Odegaard to an ankle injury - an problem that haunted them throughout the season. But now everything is different. Arteta's side are no longer as vulnerable as before, thanks to the depth of their squad and the maturity of their substitutes.
However, that strength and Arsenal's real potential only matter if they turn their current stability into results on the pitch.
