Arsenal could be without several key players, including Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori, ahead of the Liverpool clash.
Arsenal face one of their biggest tests of the season as they host Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday evening. Mikel Arteta may have to do without a number of his key stars. Riccardo Calafiori suffered a knee injury in the midweek game, while there are considerable doubts over the fitness of key duo Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber.
Arteta was tight-lipped about their involvement during his pre-match press conference. Even Calafiori, who definitely seemed out of contention, was not ruled out by the Arsenal boss ahead of the Liverpool clash, as he did provide updates on the key trio.
On the trio, he said, “We’re going to do our very best to somehow have them available but it’s very uncertain.”
Arteta expanded on Calafiori’s situation, “He needs some more tests. Yesterday he had some, today he’s going to have some more and after that we will know. Last time we thought it was really bad and he ended up playing two or three days after, so let’s see how it is.”
When asked whether Saka has been training, he said, “Yes, he has done a bit of training on the grass. How far we can get him to Sunday, that’s a different question. We have another day, which is a good thing, but we’ll see.”
Eagle-eyed fans did spot a blurred image in the background of a player who resembled Timber, which has since been trending on X. Arteta confirmed the defender was involved and said, “Timber, again, it’s the first session that he could have some involvement. He’s been out for a while. We expected him to be further back than where he is at the moment, but, again, we have to wait and see.”
While there are considerable questions about the trio and their involvement on Sunday, one player who will miss this clash is William Saliba. The Frenchman picked up a straight red card for his professional foul against Bournemouth and will miss the Liverpool clash.
With Calafiori and Timber in doubt, Arteta faces a dilemma when selecting his best backline. Assuming the defensive duo won’t start, Arsenal could push Thomas Partey at right-back, with Oleksandr Zinchenko on the left, although there are still question marks about the Ukrainian international’s overall fitness and match sharpness.
Ben White is then expected to move centrally alongside Gabriel Magalhaes. Partey’s move to right-back could allow Arteta to field Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in that central midfield. At the same time, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to provide the width.
There is still hope about Saka’s involvement, although Jesus seems like a better fit than Raheem Sterling on the right-hand side at the moment. Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard are once again expected to form Arsenal’s front two.
Predicted Lineup (4-4-2): Raya; Partey, Ben White, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jesus, Rice, Merino, Martinelli; Trossard, Havertz
