Once again, Mikel Arteta will have to deal with a number of absences as he prepares his Arsenal side to host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Arsenal have been beset by injury problems so far this season. Mikel Arteta has been given sleepless nights by the Arsenal injury crisis at times.
Club captain Martin Odegaard is still sidelined, joining Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney on the treatment table.
Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber are both doubts for this weekend’s clash. There are also concerns about Riccardo Calafiori.
Calafiori sustained a knock against Shakhtar Donetsk during Tuesday evening’s Champions League encounter.
The Italian has already spent a spell on the sidelines this season, and looks set for another period out of action.
Arsenal handed Riccardo Calafiori injury news
The 22-year-old will not be fit to face Liverpool on Sunday.
As reported by Corriere dello Sport, the former Bologna man has suffered a “slight problem” with his medial collateral ligament.
Whilst this issue is not expected to keep him off the pitch for any more than a few weeks, the 8-cap Italy international obviously won’t be in contention to take on the Merseyside outfit.
Calafiori has had major knee issues in the past, so Arteta will be keen to handle the player with care and won’t rush him back into action at the risk of aggravating his complaint.
However, this latest blow has now given the Spanish coach a major problem when it comes to constructing his defence for this weekend’s encounter with Reds, as not only is there a question mark over Timber’s availability but Arsenal will also be without the suspended William Saliba after he picked up a red card against Bournemouth.
How Arsenal will cope without Riccardo Calafiori against Liverpool
Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott wanted Calafiori to replace Saliba at centre-back, alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, against Liverpool.
Obviously, that is now not an option for Arteta, nor can he deploy the summer signing at left-back, where he has played the majority of his football this season.
Ben White may well now deputise for Saliba, but that leaves problems to solve in both full-back roles. If Timber is fit, then he will represent one solution, on either side of the pitch. Meanwhile, Thomas Partey can do a job at right-back if required.
Arteta may have to choose between Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior to take up the left-back berth. However, Zinchenko has been a defensive liability in the past, and Arteta appears to have lost faith in Kiwior. Therefore, Arteta will be hoping that his options do not ultimately boil down to this choice.
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