Arsenal face Liverpool without key defender William Saliba, putting their backline under pressure as they aim to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
Arsenal are gearing up to face Liverpool in a crucial Premier League clash this Sunday, but they will need to do so without their key defender, William Saliba. The Frenchman's absence could not have come at a more inopportune moment for Mikel Arteta's team, as the title race intensifies and defensive vulnerabilities start to surface. The pressing question now is: how significant will Saliba’s absence be?
The red card incident involving Saliba during Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth has caused concern among Gunners supporters regarding their team's defense. The French defender was sent off for pulling down Bournemouth striker Evanilson, a decision initially given as a yellow card but upgraded to red following a VAR review. The result? A one-match suspension. Arsenal, opting not to appeal, will now face Liverpool on Sunday without their key defender.
Last season, Saliba’s contributions to Arsenal’s defense were outstanding. He played every minute of their Premier League campaign, helping the Gunners achieve some of the best defensive statistics in the division. The numbers tell the story: Arsenal is significantly weaker without him on the field. His absence during the critical part of last season due to injury was keenly felt, as Arsenal, who had an eight-point lead at one stage, saw their title hopes fade, with Manchester City taking advantage once again.
This time, the stakes are equally high. With Liverpool visiting the Emirates, Arteta's team will be defensively tested. The absence of Jurrien Timber, who has been recovering from an injury since their Champions League win over PSG earlier this month, adds further complications. Timber's possible return, contingent on his fitness after the upcoming Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, could allow Ben White to move into the center-back position alongside Gabriel. White, who has been playing as a right-back, is familiar with central defense, having partnered with Gabriel during the 2021-22 season. However, if Timber is still unavailable, Arsenal's defensive options could become limited.
Jakub Kiwior is another option to consider. The Polish defender took Saliba’s place against Bournemouth but had a tough game, with his errant backpass leading to Bournemouth's second goal. Although Kiwior shows promise, his lack of match fitness might be a risk against a high-pressing Liverpool team that excels at capitalizing on defensive mistakes.
There is also the possibility of playing Riccardo Calafiori at right-back, which Arteta tried when Timber was substituted against PSG. This change would necessitate an adjustment at left-back, with Oleksandr Zinchenko returning to the squad after recovering from injury. However, Zinchenko's defensive weaknesses have been exposed before, notably during Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Anfield last season when he gave Mohamed Salah too much room, allowing the Egyptian to score a crucial equalizer. Arteta might be hesitant to depend on Zinchenko in such a high-pressure game.
Ultimately, the absence of Saliba throws Arsenal’s defensive plans into disarray at a critical juncture. Liverpool, who have rediscovered some of their attacking flair, will be looking to capitalize on any weaknesses. Arteta will need to get his tactical choices exactly right if Arsenal are to sustain their title hopes in what promises to be a fascinating contest.
