Arsenal could be without up to seven players for Sunday’s huge Premier League encounter with Liverpool. The crisis engulfing his Gunners squad is the last thing Mikel Arteta needs before a game that could have a huge impact on the title race.
While we are still in October, victory for table-topping Liverpool this weekend would leave them seven points clear of third-placed Arsenal – a lead which even at this early stage of the campaign could be insurmountable.
Throw in the fact the relentless nature of four-time defending champions Manchester City – who could jump from second to top and six points above Arsenal with what is an expected win at home to struggling Southampton on Saturday – and the importance of at least not losing the match will not be lost on Arteta.
But the Gunners boss will go into the game without a number of key men either sidelined or extremely doubtful
Captain Martin Odegaard has not played since August 31 after suffering a serious ankle injury while on Norway international duty last month and he has no chance of facing Arne Slot’s men.
The midfielder said in his programme notes for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium: “I’ve been working very hard on my recovery in the past few weeks, and missing out on big Champions League nights like this just makes me more determined and motivated to get back as soon as possible.
“I’m feeling better and better each day, but when it’s an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well. Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general it’s getting better and I feel like I’m getting closer now.”
It proved a costly night for Arteta after he saw Riccardo Calafiori limp off with a knee injury in the second half.
The Arsenal manager was asked about the fitness of the Italy international at his press conference on Friday. He said: “He needs some more tests. Yesterday (Thursday) he had some, today he’s going to have some more.
“Last time we thought it was really bad and then he ended up playing two days later.”
Arteta is already without three defenders. William Saliba is suspended after being sent off in last Saturday’s damaging 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are injured.
The Gunners, then, could do with Jurrien Timber returning. The Netherlands international has been out for nearly a month and, while he returned to training this week, it appears the visit of the Reds will come too soon.
“It was the first session that he could have some involvement,” Arteta said. “He’s been out a while. We thought he would be further ahead.”
Perhaps the player Arsenal need back the most, however, is winger Bukayo Saka, who has been absent for their last two matches after sustaining a hamstring injury while playing for England.
Arteta said yesterday: “He’s done a bit of training on the grass. How far we can get him before Sunday is another question. We will see.”
Saka, Timber and Calafiori did not train yesterday. And Arteta, a former Everton hero said: “We’re going to do our very best to somehow have them available. It’s very, very uncertain.”
