Arsenal have a huge selection dilemma as Mikel Arteta’s side prepare to host Liverpool in what promises to be a crucial match for Premier League title race momentum
Mikel Arteta has faced plenty of challenges during his time as Arsenal manager, but Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool will be a real test for the Spaniard.
Arsenal are coming into the match off the back of a difficult week. The Gunners looked out of sorts in their defeat at Bournemouth even before William Saliba’s red card, and were far from convincing in their narrow win against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
Saliba will miss out on Sunday through suspension, while captain Martin Odegaard has also yet to return from the injury he picked up on Norway duty in September. There are also question marks on Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori, while Jurrien Timber isn’t guaranteed to return after missing the last two games.
“Saka not training yet so he won’t be available and Ricci [Calafiori] felt something [against Shakhtar] and could not stay on. Bit of a worry.” Arteta told Amazon Prime after the 1-0 midweek win.
Any game would be tricky for Arsenal with their absentee list, but the opposition makes things even tougher. Liverpool have yet to lose an away game under Arne Slot, though they have injury issues of their own with Alisson unavailable and Diogo Jota a major doubt.
Arteta’s decisions will be informed, at least in part, by who is fit enough to start. Here, Mirror Football provides five possible line-ups for the top-of-the-table clash.
Option 1 – only Odegaard misses out through injury
Who will start for Arsenal against Liverpool? Give your predictions in the comments section
The dream scenario for Arteta is not quite full strength, but it’s close to that. Odegaard still looks set to miss out, and Saliba is definitely unavailable, while there has been no indication Takehiro Tomiyasu or Kieran Tierney will be back available imminently – something that has become more of an issue given injuries elsewhere.
With Saliba suspended, the natural move looks like being a shift inside for Ben White with Timber returning at right-back. A sturdy back four looks like the sensible option given Liverpool’s physicality in attack, with every chance Darwin Nunez starts through the middle after his winner in midweek.
Leandro Trossard might feel he’s on thin ice after a couple of underwhelming displays, including a missed penalty in midweek. However, a return for Saka could allow Arteta to move the Belgian into more of a number 10 role behind Kai Havertz.
Option 2 – Saka and Odegaard absent
Arsenal would have a few options if Saka can’t make it. Raheem Sterling started against Bournemouth, though he was sacrificed after Saliba’s dismissal and might be regarded as more of a bench option on Sunday, while there’s also the option of dropping Kai Havertz deeper and letting Gabriel Jesus lead the line.
Against an opponent as strong as Liverpool, though, Arteta may opt for a more conservative approach. After all, defeat on Sunday would leave his team seven points adrift of Slot’s men.
Mikel Merino started ahead of Rice and Partey in a midfield three at Bournemouth before the early red card forced a shake-up. The Spaniard could well be used as part of a combative midfield trio in an effort to counter the Merseyside club.
Option 3 – No Saka or Calafiori
Calafiori’s early exit against Shakhtar looked concerning. The Italian attempted to play on before ultimately realising he was unable to do so, and Arsenal will hope things aren’t as serious as some fear.
Partey played the second half against Shakhtar at right-back, with Merino slotting into midfield. The same could be required on Sunday, with Timber taking Calafiori’s place on the left and a Rice-Merino pivot.
In this setup, Arteta may well opt for a more fluid front-line. Gabriel Jesus has shown an ability to play on the right or through the middle, and dropping Havertz deeper to support the midfield could give the Brazilian a way in.
Option 4 – No Saka, Calafiori or Timber
Of course, all of the above assumes Timber is ready to return. While Arteta appeared optimistic on Monday, the Dutchman’s involvement is not guaranteed. “It is going to be close,” Arsenal’s manager told reporters ahead of the Shakhtar game. “We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group. But he is pretty close.”
Myles Lewis-Skelly played 20 minutes at left-back on Tuesday, but throwing the teenager in at the deep end would be a huge call. Lewis-Skelly has yet to start a senior game outside the Carabao Cup, and Arteta may well still have nightmares about young left-back Nuno Tavares’ day to forget against Liverpool in 2021.
Jakub Kiwior didn’t cover himself in glory after coming off the bench against Bournemouth, but it may well be the case that the Pole gets the nod. Arsenal will likely need to be more compact than against weaker opponents, and this could end up suiting the former Spezia man, and a more defensive setup might also see Jorginho introduced in a compact midfield.
Option 5 – New role for Rice
Partey isn’t the only member of Arsenal’s midfield who could be utilised in a less familiar role. Declan Rice played at centre-back on a number of occasions, and also played at the back for Ireland before switching his international allegiances.
Granted, it’s been a long time since the midfielder got a regular run of games as a defender, but he has shown he has the physical and tactical capabilities. The question is whether Arteta is prepared to sacrifice what he can offer through the middle.
Moving Rice to centre-back would mean Arsenal are still able to use White’s attacking threat down the right. It’s an option for Arteta regardless of whether other defenders are available, and it could allow Timber to face off against the dangerous Mohamed Salah down Arsenal’s left.
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