Former Watford striker Deeney gave his thoughts on the current struggles facing Arsenal in a recent interview with talkSPORT. He singled out Odego's injury as a huge test for Arsenal and noted that Arsenal may regret letting Smith Rowe go.
Deeney believes that Odego's absence is a big blow for Arsenal as he plays a vital role in the team. He mentions that Arsenal have been relatively lucky in the last two years not to have suffered serious injury and suspension problems, but this week they could be without two key players for the first time due to injuries and suspensions. This situation will put Arsenal's performance to a severe test.
Furthermore, Deeney has expressed his regret over Arsenal selling Smith-Rowe. He believes that Smith-Rowe could have been an ideal replacement if Odego needed to miss some time. Although he is not the same type of player as Odego, his presence would certainly provide Arsenal with more options at such a crucial time.
Deeney further pointed out that Arsenal's squad depth is a clear disadvantage for them compared to top teams like Manchester City. He mentioned that City are more flexible in their player allocation, for example when Rice is unavailable, they can rely on players such as Jorginho to fill the gap. However, Arsenal have a certain amount of uncertainty about the strength and form of their players outside of the starting eleven, which could put them in a difficult position when they suffer unexpected circumstances such as injuries.
