Graeme Souness claims Arsenal are now ‘vulnerable’ against Liverpool after what he’s heard about two players

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Arsenal face one of their hardest tests this season against Liverpool this weekend, and they could be without several key players.

William Saliba is suspended after his red card against Bournemouth last week, and there could be a crisis at the back.

Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were among the absentees from training, whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are still carrying injuries.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has not appeared since August, and this has heavily limited Arsenal’s options in the back line.

However, Liverpool icon Graeme Souness has now claimed that injuries further up the pitch could cause even more harm to Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta has a serious problem on his hands.

• READ MORE: The top five most injured Arsenal players in 2023/24

Graeme Souness claims Arsenal will struggle without Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka

In his column for Mail Sport, Souness has given his verdict on reports that both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka could again be absent for Arsenal, with both picking up injuries on recent international breaks.

“Liverpool are a very dangerous team right now, and it feels like they are playing Arsenal at just the right time,” Souness explained.

“I look at Arsenal’s midfield — without injured Martin Odegaard — and there is no guile or imagination there.

“Declan Rice and Thomas Partey are two honest players, but the strongest part of their game is their defensive heads. With Bukayo Saka a doubt too, Arsenal are vulnerable.”

Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth was the first time in over three years that both Saka and Odegaard were missing from the starting XI, and it showed as they registered just one shot on target.

Arsenal face creativity problem vs Liverpool if Bukayo Saka is out

Saka is an injury doubt for the game, and if the winger is missing, Arsenal will face a serious problem.

The England star stepped up to fill the creative void left by Odegaard in recent weeks, but without both, Arsenal do not have many options who can provide a spark in the final third.

Leandro Trossard’s form has been questionable, but he appears the most likely option to come into midfield, with one of Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus on the right wing to replace Saka.

Youngster Ethan Nwaneri could be the solution to inject some creativity, but it remains to be seen whether Arteta will hand him his first Premier League start.