Arsenal are set to travel to the north-west to take on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The Gunners will be desperate to come away from Merseyside with at least a point, as they look to keep pace with Arne Slot’s side in the early stages of the season.
Liverpool will be without Jeremie Frimpong for the clash due to a thigh injury, while Alexis Mac Allister is a doubt.
Meanwhile, Arsenal won’t have Bukayo Saka to call upon, after the Englishman sustained a hamstring injury against Leeds last time out.
Arsenal think Martin Odegaard might be fit to face Liverpool
Martin Odegaard was forced off against Leeds with a shoulder injury.
The Norwegian was involved in a collision mid-way through the first half, and tried to play on before admitting defeat and being replaced by Ethan Nwaneri seven minutes before the break.
There were initial fears that the setback could be significant, although it now appears that he’s in contention to feature against Liverpool.
He faces a late fitness test to determine his availability, with journalist Martin Samuel revealing that Arsenal are increasingly confident he’ll be ready to feature.
“Now, they’ve got no Saka,” Samuel said on the Game podcast.
“Odegaard is touch and go, isn’t it?
“I mean, they think he might be fit. We’re not certain yet. But even without Saka, as they come in, they might be looking at Liverpool and thinking, we could have a go at it, and it would be big.”
It’s pivotal for Arsenal that Martin Odegaard is fit to play against Liverpool
Odegaard has been described as ‘unique’ by Mikel Arteta, and that’s because his profile in the Gunners’ squad is truly distinctive.
No one else in Arsenal’s ensemble is capable of providing the creative passing in the final third that he is, or at least to the same level.
Meanwhile, no one else is as adept at leading the press, and it’s crucial that this press functions effectively in a game of such magnitude.
While both Nwaneri and Eberechi Eze can offer interesting things in midfield, neither has the pressing or passing ability of Odegaard.
If either of the aforementioned players start, they should be deployed out wide, with Mikel Merino the sensible replacement for Odegaard if he’s not deemed fit enough.
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