Leandro Trossard will replace Gabriel Martinelli in the Arsenal starting lineup when they host Liverpool at the Emirates on Thursday.
Arsenal will aim to widen the gap at the top of the Premier League table when they welcome Liverpool to the Emirates on Thursday night. Mikel Arteta has no new issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Riccardo Calafiori (muscular) and Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) remain in the treatment room. However, the two defenders are closing in on returning. Additionally, Max Dowman is still unavailable due to an ankle injury.
However, Kai Havertz may return to the matchday squad after Arteta dropped him from the group this past weekend against Bournemouth. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, the Spanish tactician provided fitness updates on Calafiori, Mosquera, and Havertz.
The Arsenal manager said, “We are monitoring obviously his load, he has been out for a long time for two different reasons and he is very close. He trained this morning again and hopefully we are going to have him available in the best version of Kai Havertz.”
“They [Calafiori and Mosquera] are out again. I think [they’ll return] pretty soon, they have to go to the last stage of the rehab. If everything goes well, hopefully very soon they will be available for selection.”
During his presser, Arteta also praised Piero Hincapie for his recent impact. The Arsenal boss said, “Obviously he came in very, very late in the market, without pre-season, and after surgery as well. He’s been immense for everything that we ask him to do; he’s fulfilled that in various roles as well. I think it’s been a big boost for the team and another step in terms of what he can bring to the team.”
David Raya is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Arsenal lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Liverpool on Thursday. The backline will feature Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Piero Hincapie.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi in the double pivot. Martin Odegaard will reprise the no. 10 role, with Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard being the two wide attackers. Finally, Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line for the home side against Liverpool. So, Gabriel Martinelli and Eberechi Eze will be backup options on the bench.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Gyokeres
