Mikel Arteta wants to think positive.
You could forgive him for not doing so at the minute. He faces the very real prospect of going up against the best team in the Premier League right now with arguably his three best players missing. The Spaniard won’t allow himself to get down about it though.
“It gives me zero for the next moment, the next day, the next preparation,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “It just takes things out of me. If it takes things out of me, it takes things out of the staff because they are close to me. If it takes things out of the staff, it’s then the players. Then your belief? Throw it away.”
Regardless though, Arteta faces a massive selection headache. Luckily for him football.london‘s Arsenal writers are on hand to describe who he should pick.
Kaya Kaynak – Chief Arsenal correspondent
Mikel Arteta really finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. If you looked at one position where Arsenal had the most depth at the start of the season, you’d probably have said the defence. All of a sudden things are looking pretty thread bare.
David Raya, Ben White and Gabriel are definitely fit, so they start. With William Saliba out, I’m bringing Jakub Kiwior into the heart of defence to replace him.
At left back you have to take a gamble of some sorts with Riccardo Calafiori out and Jurrien Timber a massive doubt. Throwing Oleksandr Zinchenko in cold against Mo Salah feels tough, but then so does giving Myles Lewis-Skelly his first start in the game. I’m opting for the latter though.
In midfield there is at least a bit more stability with Thomas Partey and Declan Rice. I think Mikel Merino in there to offer a bit more protection for the rag-tag back four is wisest.
In the forward line I’m going for Gabriel Jesus on the right. The Brazilian is excellent in big games and should make a threatening front three with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli.
Kaynak’s Arsenal XI vs Liverpool – Raya; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Merino; Jesus, Havertz, Martinelli.
Samuel Truelove – Content Editor
Mikel Arteta has a number of fitness concerns this week and Arsenal’s squad depth will be tested to its limit. Add to that William Saliba’s one-game suspension and the fact Liverpool are in red-hot form – it’s far from ideal.
David Raya will certainly start in goal with Gabriel one of the centre-backs in front of him. My pick to partner the Brazilian would be Jakub Kiwior, who has shown he can be a solid defender. Ben White plays at right back as normal while at left back I would start Oleksandr Zinchenko. It’s not ideal given the Ukrainian has struggled against Mohamed Salah but Arteta hasn’t really got much choice.
Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino would be my picks in midfield. I can see Merino causing the Liverpool backline problems so don’t back against the Spaniard from scoring at Emirates Stadium on Sunday with one of his well-timed runs into the box.
Gabriel Martinelli is finding some decent form and could give Trent Alexander-Arnold nightmares with his pace and trickery. Kai Havertz has to start in the No.9 role and I’m backing Bukayo Saka to be fit in time for the match. Arteta really does need the Hale Ender to return as Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling just don’t offer as much when they are playing.
Truelove’s Arsenal XI vs Liverpool – Raya; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
