How Arsenal Will Cope in Champions League Without Wilshere, Arteta and Ramsey

Arsenal’s draw with Tottenham didn’t just cost them two points. It also cost them three midfielders. By the end of the match, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere had departed with injury problems, and the trio are now likely to miss the midweek clash with Galatasaray.

Arteta and Ramsey are certain to be out, with Arsene Wenger having pre-emptively ruled them out of the weekend’s match against Chelsea. Wilshere has a small chance to be available, but given that his injury is to his vulnerable ankle, it would be dangerous to play him if there’s any possible risk of aggravating the problem.

Wenger will be cursing his luck. With Mathieu Debuchy and Nacho Monreal both out, he was already managing a defensive injury crisis. Now, he has been unexpectedly plunged into a midfield mire.

Arteta’s absence means Mathieu Flamini is almost certain to start against Galatasaray.

The Frenchman has not enjoyed a good start to the season, with two high-profile errors already in 2014/15. Against Manchester City, he failed to track the run of Sergio Aguero into the penalty area, allowing the Argentinian to put the Citizens into the lead. He then handed the initiative to Spurs at the weekend, dallying in possession and allowing Christian Eriksen to nip in and feed Nacer Chadli for the opener.

Flamini showed in the first half of last season that he can offer steel and energy to the Arsenal midfield. He must show his customary fight to recapture that form. 

Alongside Flamini, Wenger has several options. Abou Diaby is not yet ready to start a game of this significance, but his younger compatriot Francis Coquelin is a plausible alternative. Coquelin played superbly against Southampton in the Capital One Cup, albeit at left-back, and he will be hoping to seize upon the chance to impose himself on the first team. 

Wenger could also choose to field Tomas Rosicky or Santi Cazorla in a deeper midfield role. However, both playmakers look more comfortable further upfield. It would be a significant risk to throw them in at the base of a double pivot.

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That role might instead go to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Oxlade-Chamberlain was excellent against Tottenham, with his powerful running posing a constant menace to the Spurs defence. However, Wenger has long insisted that the England international might develop into a top central midfielder. The spate of injuries could be a chance to test that theory once again.

Moving Oxlade-Chamberlain inside would also enable Wenger to find a place for Alexis Sanchez on the wing. The Arsenal XI would immediately look stronger with the Chilean’s inclusion. 

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Ahead of Flamini and Oxlade-Chamberlain, the absence of Ramsey and Wilshere should allow for Mesut Ozil to play in his preferred central role. Ozil was devastating through the middle at Villa Park, but he found himself forced to alternate with Wilshere on the left wing against Spurs.

Arsenal have struggled to accommodate their array of attacking midfielders this season. In a perverse way, the loss of Ramsey and Wilshere could help liberate the extravagant gifts of Ozil.

Although it is a significant blow to lose three first-choice players, only Wilshere could be said to be in anything approaching his best form. Both Ramsey and Arteta have been underperforming of late, and as such, they might be no great loss.

Wenger must hope the remainder of his squad seize upon the chance to stake a claim for a regular place. If his rejigged midfield can bring the best out of Ozil, it might be something of a blessing in disguise.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2014/15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.