Arteta Mentioned Three Players That Are Very Uncertain To Face Liverpool
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed he is “very unsure” whether three of his key players will play against Liverpool in the Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 27 October 2024.
The Gunners have been hit by injuries and suspensions throughout the season and could be without seven first-team stars when they host Premier League leaders Liverpool this weekend, and this could bother Arteta.
Arsenal defender William Saliba will miss the game against Liverpool after being handed a one-match ban after being sent off in the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.
Apart from the Frenchman, Arsenal could be without captain Martin Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, Bukayo Saka, Jurien Timbers, and Ricardo Calafiori.
This is an injury list that will make even the deepest team look thin. Odegaard, Tomiyasu, and Tierney have been out for some time and will hopefully be closer to their return, but their absence against Liverpool this weekend was highly expected and was no surprise to the Gunners fans.
However, it would be a major setback if Saka, Timber, and Calafiori are not involved following renewed hopes that the trio will be fit for the decider. Although Arteta’s pre-match statements did not encourage the idea that either could feature.
In his pre-match press conference, Arteta gave an update on the injured trio.
“We are going to do our very best to somehow have them available. But it is very, very uncertain [that they will be able to play].”
With the limited available defenders, Arteta and his staff now face a dilemma. Should they send Thomas Partey at centre-back and Ben White at right-back or should they keep White at right-back and go for Jakub Kiwior or Declan Rice in the center? This could be a challenge for the Spaniard Coach.
