Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has a tonne of choices to make before Sunday’s pivotal matchup with Liverpool. After eight games, the Gunners are four points behind Arne Slot’s team, who are presently leading the Premier League standings. The defending champions, Manchester City, are in second place, three points ahead of Arsenal.
Additionally, they will be playing this weekend without captain Martin Odegaard, who has been sidelined since September due to injury. Bukayo Saka, a crucial forward, is also being questioned over his fitness.
Saka sustained an injury during the October international break and has missed Arsenal’s last two games. Following Tuesday’s victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, Arteta affirmed that the 23-year-old has not yet resumed training with the first squad.
But with Riccardo Calafiori leaving the game due to injury against Shakhtar, there may be further cause for concern in defence. William Saliba is suspended after being sent off following Saturday’s loss against Bournemouth, and Kieran Tierney, Jurrien Timber, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all now sidelined by injuries. Calafiori could be replaced at left-back by Oleksandr Zinchenko. Zinchenko was benched against Shakhtar after only recovering from an injury,
but his expertise might be crucial in such a crucial match.