Arsenal could be without up to seven key players for their upcoming Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday, a challenging scenario for manager Mikel Arteta in a game that could significantly influence the title race.
Despite it only being October, a win for Liverpool, who currently lead the league, would widen the gap between them and third-placed Arsenal to seven points. Such a margin, even at this early stage, could be tough for Arsenal to close as the season progresses.
The stakes are further raised by Manchester City, who could move six points clear of Arsenal if they secure a victory against Southampton. Arteta will be well aware of the consequences a loss could have on Arsenal’s position in the title race, making this fixture a high-stakes encounter.
However, Arteta is grappling with numerous injury concerns and suspensions within his squad, which may affect Arsenal’s performance. Captain Martin Odegaard remains out of action due to an ankle injury he sustained on August 31, ruling him out for Sunday’s critical match.
In a recent update, Odegaard shared that while he is making progress in his recovery, it has not been without setbacks, and he still needs more time to fully heal.
The list of absences grew further in Arsenal’s recent Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, when defender Riccardo Calafiori left the field with a knee injury.
Arteta expressed his concerns on Friday, stating that additional tests are required to assess Calafiori’s condition. However, he noted that the player has shown resilience in the past, having quickly recovered from prior scares.
Arsenal’s defensive lineup is already under pressure. William Saliba will miss Sunday’s match due to a suspension following his red card in last week’s 2-0 loss to Bournemouth. Additionally, defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are both sidelined with injuries, further depleting Arsenal’s options at the back.
Although Jurrien Timber resumed training this week after being absent for nearly a month, Arteta admitted that Timber is unlikely to be match-ready in time for Liverpool.
The injury worries extend beyond the defense. Winger Bukayo Saka is another concern for Arteta, having strained his hamstring during international duty.
Though Saka has engaged in some light training, his availability for Sunday remains uncertain. Arteta shared that Saka, along with Timber and Calafiori, missed Friday’s training session, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding their recovery timelines. “We’re doing everything we can to have them available, but it’s still very, very uncertain,” Arteta said regarding their potential involvement.
As Sunday’s match approaches, Arsenal will hope for positive updates on their injured players, but the current outlook appears challenging. Arteta’s squad will need to be resilient to compete with Liverpool, who are in strong form and poised to capitalize on any gaps in Arsenal’s lineup.
A victory could prevent Liverpool from extending their lead at the top, preserving Arsenal’s title hopes. However, should Arsenal face Sunday’s game with a significantly weakened squad, Arteta will need to adapt and find alternative strategies to keep his team competitive.
