Ode s shoulder injury is a false alarm, and Arsenal is turning around before Liverpool s final battle

In North London's 5-0 victory over Leeds United, Arsenal captain Martin Odge was forced to leave the court due to a right shoulder injury in the 38th minute, which put the Emirates Stadium in silence. The 26-year-old midfielder core has missed 12 games last season due to injury, and the move of holding the ground with his hands on his hands when he fell to the ground was heartbreaking. Coach Arteta admitted after the game that "the severity of the injury has not been grasped yet", but the Norwegian national team's call-up order made a turn for the matter - national team coach Solbaken put Odgao on the World Cup roster in early September, which implies that the shoulder injury may not be as high as initial concerns. According to Opta data, Odega ranked first in the team in the Premier League last season (98 times) and expected assists (xA9.7). Whether he can play will directly determine Arsenal's offensive organizational efficiency at Anfield.

Although Saka's hamstring injury is expected to be absent for four weeks, Odegao's timely return may become a key variable in tactical games. If the Norwegian appears, he will face the midfield oppression network constructed by Liverpool by McAllister and Sobosloy. According to StatsBomb statistics, the Reds' PPDA (number of passes allowed per defensive action) last season was only 10.8, ranking among the top three in the Premier League's compression intensity. Arteta faces a dilemma: Should we take the risk of using the captain who has not yet fully recovered, or use the new player Eberec Eze, who has just transferred from Crystal Palace for £67.5 million? Although the latter has the ability to make breakthroughs of 4.3 times per game (Whoscored data), it lacks the experience of running-in with Rice and Zubi Mendy. It is worth mentioning that 15-year-old Max Dowman made his debut against Leeds, and perhaps this young genius can become the surprise. Behind this focus showdown, there is a collision between North London and Merseyside’s two football philosophy. Arsenal tied the opponent with a precise counterattack at Anfield last season. Odegao's pass that tore the defense line was still talked about by fans. If he is absent, the Gunners may return to a more pragmatic defensive counterattack strategy, with Rice as the core of dragging back to ensure defensive stability. Throughout the Premier League era, Arsenal has only won five times at Anfield, but each victory is accompanied by the shining performance of the midfield core - from Vieira to Fabregas, the baton is now passed to Ode masters. The final evaluation of the medical team is not only about the outcome of a game, but also may affect the season trajectory of the two championship teams. As Wenger once said: "The real champion lies in how to turn crises into opportunities."