SETTABLOID

Arsenal have the biggest game of their season so far when Liverpool arrive at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The context is very simple: win and you’re firmly in the race for the title, lose and many would argue they could be out of it.

A seven-point gap would open should Arne Slot repeat the result from the pre-season meeting between the pair in America this previous summer. Arsenal go in as underdogs for many because of form, but mainly due to the injury issues they continue to suffer.

Riccardo Calafiori joined Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber, Kieran Tierney and Martin Odegaard out of the team when he suffered what looked to be a knee problem.

With that in mind, Mikel Arteta has got an almighty job on his hands when it comes to choosing his side. Some might say he barely has a choice but the hope is some returning players will indeed create options for the Spaniard.

The back line in front of David Raya is perhaps the biggest conundrum with regard to Calafiori’s absence being a key factor. It does rest heavily on whether Jurrien Timber can pass late fitness tests and overcome the muscular issue that continues to plague him.

Should he make it back, bringing him into the left-back position is where his best work, stopping Mohamed Salah, would be desirable. In the absence of William Saliba, Ben White moves to the Frenchman’s position, partnering with Gabriel Magalhaes.

Arsenal have been given a serious boost in their hopes that they will see Martin Odegaard return to action soon. Liverpool await on Sunday in the second major Premier League title clash of Arsenal’s season.

Odegaard has been missing since the September international break with an ankle problem suffered in a collision that saw the midfielder land awkwardly. However, Norway manager Ståle Solbakken has been speaking to VG and provided a favourable update on the player.

It depends on how he responds to that, but we have a legitimate hope that he is ready.” This is certainly similar to what Mikel Arteta has said on the subject as he said before the loss to Bournemouth that the club was hoping he’d return within the seven games before the November interruption.

Speaking in Monday’s press conference, he was asked about Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, who has also been missing after an injury with England earlier this month. He said: “They are closer and both progressing really well. Martin is still not fit.

Odegaard provided supporters with an update himself in the programme for the game with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Gabriel Martinelli was one of the stand-out players for Arsenal as they made it two wins in two in the new-look Champions League. The Gunners needed a Dmytro Riznyk own-goal to earn three points in a difficult test against Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mikel Arteta is facing mounting injury problems with captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka in recovery from their respective issues. Riccardo Calafiori could join that list after picking up a suspected knee injury which forced him off on Tuesday night.

William Saliba will miss the visit of Liverpool on Sunday afternoon – due to suspension – as the tests continue for new head coach Arne Slot. The impressive Martinelli picked up UEFA’s player-of-the-match accolade after proving to be a danger for the Gunners, as his showing earned praise from his Arsenal teammates. Defender Gabriel posted: “Martishowww,” alongside a picture of the two on his Instagram story.

Martinelli responded to his club and international teammate: “We’re together brother,” as the Brazilian duo have been two important players after a strong start to the campaign for the Premier League title challengers.

Arsenal will have all eye’s on Sunday’s huge Premier League clash at home to Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta’s team currently sit four points behind the Reds after losing 2-0 away at Bournemouth last weekend. And Arsenal will be wary of that gap growing when they welcome Arne Slot’s team to north London.

The Gunners know that defeat would see them fall seven points behind the league leaders and potentially six off Manchester City if the reigning champions beat Southampton on Saturday. Below are the latest media reports surrounding Arsenal…

Norway manager Stale Solbakken has provided an update on Martin Odegaard’s recovery from injury. The Gunners captain has been out of action since picking up an injury on international duty in September.

“Everything indicates that things are going according to plan, so it’s about the last steps when you have to train with opponents and in team training,” he said via Norwegian media site VG. “It depends on how he responds to that, but we have a legitimate hope that he is ready.”

Arsenal secured their second win of the season in Europe with a narrow victory against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night. A sole own goal, courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli cannoning a shot off the post and off the back of Dmytro Riznyk and into the net proved the difference and therefore failed to instil much in the way of confidence ahead of the match with Liverpool this weekend.

That said, there were signs of encouragement that should act as a boost going into the clash with Arne Slot’s side. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard as well as Jurrien Timber, however, remained sidelined.

There were definitely opportunities that went by the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard that certainly should have had a better outcome. Arsenal will need his work rate on Sunday and an eighth goal in nine home games would not hurt either.

Being very honest, what we witnessed at Bournemouth on the weekend was simply not good enough from a midfield perspective. Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey might be a combination that can work, but last weekend it simply didn’t.

There was something fitting about the fact that Mykhailo Mudryk was watching on as Arsenal played Shakhtar. Just a year and a half ago, it looked as though he would be on the pitch instead of in the stands – presumably as a replacement for Gabriel Martinelli.

In the long run, the Brazilian had borne out to be the winner in that battle long before Tuesday night. But if there was anyone doubting him, they surely aren’t anymore.

Martinelli has not exactly been at his best in the past year. By most measures he had a disappointing season last time out, and his start to this campaign had not quite set the world alight.

Just prior to the international break we saw signs that he was bubbling back up to top form. Back to back goals against Leicester and Southampton seemed to have re-ignited his confidence once again.

He did miss a big chance against Bournemouth, and perhaps last season that would have dented his confidence. Now he looks so firmly like he believes in his own abilities that he was able to bounce back.

Even with a taped up calf the Brazilian was the most energetic player on the pitch. He may not have got the goal, but he certainly brought about the winner. In a bland attacking display from Arsenal he brought just the flavour required to get the Gunners over the line.

“He looked really sharp, really fresh as well,” Arteta said of the Brazilian. “Fresher than anybody on the pitch because he could not start against Bournemouth and you could tell that was different to the rest. He had another gear, he had another level of threat and he state the game really well. He had a great performance for us tonight.”

Martinelli seems to be coming up to the boil just before Liverpool. The Brazilian has scored more goals against them than any other opponent in his career. Could he keep up that role when Arsenal need him most this Sunday?

Arsenal return to their European journey with a home clash with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. The Gunners have started the revamped Champions League competition unbeaten with a draw in Atalanta before an impressive win over PSG.

Shakhtar have not enjoyed a strong start and have just one point from their opening two games. While in the Ukrainian topflight, they sit fourth behind Dynamo Kyiv, Oleksandriya and FC Polissya Zhytomyr.

Oleksandr Zinchenko meets his former club having just returned to fitness and Mikel Arteta confirmed that the hope is he can now start to reintegrate into the side. The Spaniard has other fitness considerations ahead of the game while Liverpool loom large in the not-so-distant future as rotation and squad management must be thought of.

Arsenal are currently facing a potential injury crisis in wake of their Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Gunners managed to claim a 1-0 win over the Ukrainian champions, but it didn’t come without yet more caveats on the personnel front.

Arsenal defender Ben White was surprisingly substituted at half-time, with Thomas Partey dropping to right-back and Mikel Merino coming off the bench.

Then, in the 66th minute, Riccardo Calafiori went down with a suspected knee injury, which prompted the club doctors to examine him.

And though Calafiori briefly returned to the fold, he then gestured at Mikel Arteta to take him off, with Myles Lewis-Skelly taking his place.

The Gunners were beaten 2-0 at Bournemouth on Saturday, a result which saw them slip to four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

However, Arsenal remain unbeaten in the Champions League and can take a step closer to the round of 16 should they overcome the Ukrainian champions.

Shakhtar are yet to win in the competition, failing to triumph in either of their opening games, and were beaten 3-0 by Atalanta last time out.