One of the biggest tests of Arsenal’s Premier League title credentials awaits on Sunday, when the Gunners welcome Liverpool to their Emirates headquarters for a blockbuster battle.
Mikel Arteta’s side were condemned to defeat number one of the 2024-25 season last weekend, rocking up to Bournemouth only to suffer a 2-0 reverse after William Saliba’s red card.
Sunday’s third-placed hosts have fallen four points behind Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table as a result, but they got back to winning ways in midweek with a 1-0 success over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with Liverpool, who beat RB Leipzig by the same scoreline in Europe on Wednesday.
Another untimely concern for Arteta, Riccardo Calafiori awkwardly jarred his knee in the midweek win over Shakhtar, and the Italy international has now emerged as a serious doubt for the visit of Liverpool.
Jurrien Timber has not been seen since picking up a muscle issue against Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the month, but he is inching closer to a return and might be able to deputise for the stricken Calafiori if need be.
Despite initial optimism that Martin Odegaard may have been on track to feature against Liverpool, Arsenal will be without their captain once again on Sunday, but a return before the November international break is feasible.
On the other hand, there is no knowing when Takehiro Tomiyasu might be able to come back from his latest knee setback, which he suffered on his first appearance of the season against Southampton a couple of weeks ago.
Kieran Tierney was spotted in the stands on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a severe hamstring problem, one which could very well spell the end of his Arsenal career if he is sold in January.
The headline from Arteta’s post-Shakhtar media duties was the Spaniard declaring that Bukayo Saka was “unlikely” to be fit for the visit of Liverpool, but reports have claimed that he is hopeful of being fit, so there will be no way of knowing the truth until the lineups are released
