After overcoming Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in the Champions League, Arsenal will now be preparing for the visit of Liverpool this coming weekend.
Sunday’s game won’t be the first time Mikel Arteta has faced Arne Slot’s Liverpool, Arsenal lost to their title-rivals over in the US in pre-season.
Arsenal lost 2-1 and it was Mohamed Salah who opened the scoring, a familiar foe for the Gunners.
Salah (10 goals) is in fifth place in the list all-time top scorers against Arsenal in the Premier League, one topped by Harry Kane (14).
Wayne Rooney (12), Roberto Firmino (11) and Jamie Vardy (11) complete the top five – names who don’t always evoke good memories for Arsenal fans.
Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber both injury doubts for Liverpool visit
Over the past few seasons, Arsenal have struggled to find the right solution at left-back, that was until Riccardo Calafiori arrived and Jurrien Timber recovered from injury.
Arsenal fans would feel a lot more confident ahead of facing 32-year-old Salah were either fit, but that may not be the case.
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Calafiori injured his knee against Shakhtar Donetsk, and there’s still been no sign of Timber since before the last international break.
A worrying scenario for Arsenal, especially considering that William Saliba will also be suspended.
That means that Mikel Arteta may have to choose between Oleksandr Zinchenko and Myles Lewis-Skelly on Sunday, with the Arsenal boss both unlikely to opt for the 18-year-old.
Lewis-Skelly did well in a short cameo against Shakhtar Donetsk, but facing Liverpool is a different test altogether.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s terrible record against Mohamed Salah
It seems likely that Zinchenko will get the nod at left-back, which doesn’t bode well for Arsenal.
In Zinchenko’s last three appearances against Salah on the left, the Egyptian has scored three goals.
Salah seems to love coming up against Zinchenko, a full-back who is not known for his defensive concentration or one-versus-one defending.
In the 2-1 defeat mentioned from pre-season, Salah scored, as he did twice against Zinchenko in 2023.
Combined, Arsenal have spent £68m on both Calafiori and Timber, attempting to solve their issue on the left.
However, injuries could mean Arsenal are in a familiarly precarious position up against Liverpool’s most dangerous forward this weekend, a game that is now a must win.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 21 |
| 2 |  Man CityManchester City | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 20 |
| 3 |  ArsenalArsenal | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 17 |
| 4 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 17 |
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