Arsenal faces a crucial test against Liverpool without key defender William Saliba, as Mikel Arteta navigates a defensive reshuffle amid a heated Premier League title race.
Arsenal are preparing to face Liverpool in a crucial Premier League match this Sunday, but they will have to do so without their key defender, William Saliba. The timing of the Frenchman's absence couldn't be worse for Mikel Arteta's team, as the race for the top of the table intensifies and defensive weaknesses start to show. The pressing question is: how significant will Saliba's absence be?
The incident involving Saliba receiving a red card during Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth has caused concern among Gunners fans regarding their team's defense. The French defender was sent off for pulling down Bournemouth striker Evanilson, a decision that was initially a yellow card but was upgraded to red after a VAR review. The result? A one-match suspension. Arsenal, opting not to appeal, will now face the Sunday match against Liverpool without their crucial defensive player.
Saliba's impact on Arsenal's defense last season was nothing short of outstanding. He was on the field for every minute of their Premier League matches, aiding the Gunners in securing some of the top defensive stats in the league. The statistics are clear: Arsenal is significantly weaker without him on the field. Saliba's absence due to injury during the crucial final stretch last season was greatly felt, as Arsenal, who had an eight-point advantage at the top at one point, saw their title ambitions fade away, with Manchester City taking advantage once again.
This time, the stakes are just as high. With Liverpool coming to the Emirates, Arteta’s team will face a defensive challenge. The absence of Jurrien Timber, who has been recovering from an injury since their Champions League win over PSG earlier this month, adds more complications. If Timber returns, depending on his fitness after the upcoming Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk, it would 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 also under consideration. The Polish defender replaced Saliba for the game against Bournemouth but had a challenging time, with his poor backpass directly leading to the Cherries' second goal. Although Kiwior shows promise, his lack of match fitness could be a disadvantage against a Liverpool team that excels in capitalizing on defensive mistakes.
Another option is Riccardo Calafiori at right-back, which Arteta tried when Timber was substituted against PSG. This change would necessitate a reshuffle at left-back, with Oleksandr Zinchenko returning to the squad after recovering from an injury. However, Zinchenko's defensive weaknesses have been exposed in the past, most notably in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Anfield last season when he allowed Mohamed Salah too much space, resulting in the Egyptian's crucial equalizer. Arteta might be hesitant to depend on Zinchenko in such a crucial match.
In the end, Saliba's absence disrupts Arsenal's defensive strategies at a crucial moment. Liverpool, who have regained some of their attacking flair, will aim to capitalize on any vulnerabilities. Arteta must make the right tactical decisions if Arsenal are to sustain their title aspirations in what is set to be an intriguing match.
