Mikel Arteta has plenty of selection headaches ahead of Arsenal vs Liverpool. The Spaniard will give it to the last second to make his decision, but there is so much still up in the air that he has been having sleepless nights.
“Normally I prefer to go to bed with the line up in my head so I can sleep like a baby,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “But sometimes it can not be as you have to wait for the next day. Sometimes two days before. Or just three days before you already have the idea ‘against this team this is what I am going to do’ but when you have uncertainty with injuries that is tricky.”
Martin Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are definitely out, while William Saliba is missing for the first time since May 2023 due to suspension. Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are contenders to replace him, but both face late fitness tests, while Bukayo Saka is also a doubt.
A loss could see Arsenal fall to seven points behind Liverpool. Even at this early stage, such a gap in the title race feels huge.
Goalkeeper – David Raya
In the sea of current Arsenal uncertainty, one definite is David Raya. He’ll want to make up for his below par display at Bournemouth last time out.
Right-back – Thomas Partey
It’s by no means ideal, but with so many injuries in the back line and Jurrien Timber a huge doubt, Thomas Partey could be asked to fill in at right-back. The Ghanaian has done it before, but never in such a huge game.
Centre-back – Ben White
Partey being at right back would then see Ben White shift in to cover for William Saliba. The England international hasn’t played in the middle for over a year, but can be trusted to show his adaptability.
Centre-back – Gabriel
Perhaps the only player set to play his usual position in defence is Gabriel. The Brazilian scored against Liverpool last season and Arsenal could really do with another one from him this time.
Left-back – Jakub Kiwior
Oleksandr Zinchenko hasn’t played for six weeks so throwing him in cold against Mo Salah feels too big a risk. So does giving a first league start to Myles Lewis-Skelly. With that in mind Jakub Kiwior is likely to be trusted at left-back once again.
