"Arsenal face a defensive dilemma against Liverpool as William Saliba's suspension leaves Arteta with crucial tactical decisions in a pivotal Premier League clash."
Arsenal are set to face Liverpool in an important Premier League match this Sunday, but they will have to do so without their key defender, William Saliba. The Frenchman's absence comes at a challenging time for Mikel Arteta's team, as the competition at the top of the table intensifies and defensive weaknesses begin to show. The pressing question now is: how significant will Saliba's absence be?
The incident that led to Saliba receiving a red card during Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth has caused worry among Gunners fans regarding their team's defense. The French defender was sent off for pulling down Bournemouth's striker Evanilson, a decision that was first deemed a yellow card but was escalated to a red after a VAR review. The consequence is a one-match suspension. Arsenal has decided not to appeal, meaning they will face Liverpool on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, without their key defensive player.
Saliba’s impact on Arsenal’s defense last season was outstanding. He played every minute of their Premier League campaign, helping the Gunners achieve some of the best defensive stats in the league. The statistics clearly show that Arsenal is significantly weaker without him on the field. His absence due to injury during the crucial part of last season was deeply felt; Arsenal, who once had an eight-point lead at the top, saw their title aspirations vanish, with Manchester City taking advantage once more.
This time, the stakes are equally high. With Liverpool visiting the Emirates, Arteta’s side will face a defensive challenge. The absence of Jurrien Timber, who has been recovering from an injury sustained during the Champions League victory over PSG earlier this month, adds further complications. Timber’s potential return, dependent on his fitness following the upcoming Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, could enable Ben White to move to the center-back position alongside Gabriel. White, who has been playing as a right-back, is familiar with central defense, having teamed up with Gabriel during the 2021-22 season. However, if Timber continues to be unavailable, Arsenal's defensive options could become limited.
Jakub Kiwior is another contender for the role. The Polish defender replaced Saliba against Bournemouth but faced challenges, notably when his errant backpass led to the Cherries' second goal. Although Kiwior shows promise, his lack of match fitness might be a weakness against Liverpool's aggressive pressing style, which capitalizes on defensive mistakes.
There is also the option of Riccardo Calafiori at right-back, which Arteta explored 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 injury. However, Zinchenko's defensive weaknesses have been exposed before, particularly 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 high-pressure match.
Ultimately, Saliba's absence disrupts Arsenal's defensive strategies at a crucial time. Liverpool, having regained some of their attacking flair, will aim to take advantage of any gaps. Arteta needs to make precise tactical decisions to ensure Arsenal's title aspirations remain intact in what is set to be an exciting match.
