Arsenal will make late decisions on a number of their players ahead of their showdown with Liverpool this afternoon.
Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have all been considered major doubts this week with the Gunners still without Martin Odegaard after his ‘significant ankle injury’ suffered while on international duty with Denmark.
Saka was forced off while playing for England against Greece, missing last Saturday’s defeat to Bournemouth as a result and Tuesday’s Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Saka has resumed light training but worked away from his teammates on Friday and is still considered a major doubt for the visit of the Reds. While Mikel Arteta refused to rule the winger out, he is running out of time to prove his fitness.
There are also growing problems at the back. William Saliba will miss the next three games a result of the straight red card he was shown at the Vitality Stadium last weekend.
Calafiori would have been the most likely candidate to step in and replace the France international.
But the former Bologna star is himself a doubt after he was forced off midway through the second-half against Shakhtar with a knee problem, with Arteta bleakly describing the situation as ‘not great news’.
Calafiori has been used at left-back since being brought into the team and his absence will serve as a major blow particularly with doubts over Timber.
The Dutchman has been excellent this season in both full-back roles but has not featured since the 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the month and could still be unavailable this weekend.
Arsenal injuries
Doubts: Saka (hamstring), Timber (muscle), Calafiori (knee)
Ruled out: Odegaard (ankle), Tierney (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee)
Suspended: Saliba
Both Timber and Calafiori were also absent from training on Friday.
There were also fears for Ben White after he was replaced at half-time on Tuesday night but Arteta later confirmed that change was a tactical one.
Injuries for Calafiori and Timber create a real problem at left-back with Oleksandr Zinchenko only just returning from injury – having also been tormented by Mohamed Salah in the same fixture last season. Myles Lewis-Skelly was also called upon ahead of the Ukrainian against Shakhtar, replacing Calafiori at left-back.
How Arsenal could line up this weekend…
Jakub Kiwior is also an option but the Poland international struggled coming off the bench following Saliba’s red at Bournemouth. There is plenty for Arteta to mull over with Thomas Partey also called upon to drop into a right-back role this season.
Arne Slot meanwhile remains without first choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker who is expected to be sidelined until late November with a thigh injury.
Jota went off against Chelsea on Sunday (Picture: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Summer signing Federico Chiesa remains on the sidelines along with Harvey Elliot and Conor Bradley with Diogo Jota also set to miss out. The Portugal international was forced off last weekend against Chelsea, suffering ‘bruising’ after a collision with Tosin Adarabioyo.
Liverpool injuries
Ruled out: Alisson (thigh), Elliot (foot), Bradley (unspecified), Jota (chest/abdominal), Chiesa (unspecified)
Jota did not travel with the Liverpool squad to Germany this week with Slot admitting he will have no role to play in the capital this weekend.
How Arsenal could line up this weekend…
Predicted Arsenal XI to face Liverpool
Raya, Partey, White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Jorginho, Merino, Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli
Predicted Liverpool XI to face Arsenal
Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Jones, Diaz, Nunez
Where to watch Arsenal vs Liverpool Kick-off time and TV channel
Arsenal vs Liverpool kicks off at 4:30pm on Sunday 27 October.
Live coverage is available on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event and available to stream on Sky Go and NOW TV for subscribers.
