Arsenal guaranteed to be without seven players for Liverpool as Saka and Timber calls 'confirmed'
Mikel Arteta has some huge injury concerns as Arsenal prepare to welcome Liverpool to Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Arne Slot's side come to north London having won seven of their eight Premier League games so far. With William Saliba suspended following his red card at Bournemouth last week, it's possible Arteta will also be without a handful of first team regulars.
Bukayo Saka is the main concern, with the 23-year-old last featuring for England against Greece more than two weeks ago. Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are also huge doubts for the clash against Liverpool.
"We’re going to do our very best to somehow have them available. But it’s very, very uncertain," Arteta told reporters when asked about the trio on Friday.
On Saka the Spaniard added: "He’s done a bit of training on the grass. How far we can get him before Sunday is another question. We have another day which is a good thing, because this week had an extra day. We will see."
Arteta did not give much away when asked about Timber and Calafiori, either. On the Dutchman the Arsenal boss said: "Timber, it was the first session that he could have some involvement. He’s been out for a while. We expected him to be further along than he is at the moment. Again we will have to see."
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Saka and Calafiori injury, Saliba absence, Arsenal vs Liverpool
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta provides Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber injury update ahead of Arsenal vs Liverpool
And on the Italian Arteta said: "He needs some more tests. Yesterday he had some, today he’s going to have some more. After that we will know. Last time we thought it was really bad and then he ended up playing two days later. So let’s see."
Saka and Timber perhaps have a better chance of making the matchday squad compared with Calafiori but it's fair to say all three are huge doubts for the clash against Liverpool and could all instead be watching the encounter from the stands. A player who definitely won't be involved is Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners captain continues to recover from a foot injury, with Arteta admitting the next few days are crucial in his recovery. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tomiyasu are the only other two absentees.
So, when taking in the above, it appears that Arsenal will definitely be without Odegaard, Tierney, Tomiyasu and Saliba, while Saka, Timber and Calafiori are huge doubts for the clash so that probably means Arteta will not be allowed to call upon seven senior players on Sunday.
So, looking at the official Arsenal website, the Gunners have 15 fit and eligible senior players available for selection for the game vs Liverpool. As per Premier League rules, a club is allowed to name a squad of 20 players for a Premier League match which means a number of academy stars will need to step up.
Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly will likely be included in the matchday squad once again, with the pair now regularly training with the first team. There are even calls for Lewis-Skelly to be handed a start at left-back given the club's injury crisis.
Zane Monlouis and Maldini Kacurri could offer extra defensive cover on the bench, while Nathan Butler-Oyedeji has already been involved in a few matchday squads this season. The forward has scored five goals and assisted two more in six appearances in Premier League 2.
Possible Arsenal squad for Liverpool: Raya, Neto; Gabriel, Kiwior, White, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Monlouis, Kacurri; Partey, Rice, Merino, Jorginho, Nwaneri; Trossard, Sterling, Jesus, Havertz, Martinelli, Butler-Oyedeji.
Senior players unavailable for Liverpool: Odegaard (ankle injury), Tomiyasu (knee injury), Tierney (hamstring injury), Saliba (suspended), Saka (foot injury - doubt), Timber (muscle injury - doubt), Calafiori (knee injury - doubt).