Mikel Arteta will do something for the sixth time this season when Arsenal face Liverpool, it’s a problem

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Liverpool will arrive at the Emirates at a time when Arsenal have several key players unavailable.

Mikel Arteta will not want to tap into any excuses ahead of the possibly decisive Premier League showdown. 

Despite it only being match day nine of the season, Arsenal will not want to see the distance between themselves and the top two extend any further. 

The title race is already taking shape with Manchester City, Liverpool and the Gunners showing form, making Sunday afternoons clash crucial for both sides.

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Mikel Arteta has Arsenal squad selection dilemma ahead of Liverpool

Arteta and his ambitious squad will welcome the challenge against Liverpool with open arms however, the manager would have undoubtedly preferred to have more options available.

As many as seven players could be unavailable to face Liverpool, including several first team regulars. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal predicted lineup, team and injury news as Mikel Arteta handed boost vs Liverpool

Arguably the most prominent issue for Arteta to solve is in defence, as for the sixth time already in the Premier League this season, the boss will name a different back four.

This is because William Saliba is suspended, as well as there being doubts over Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber, three players who arguably make up Arsenal’s best defensive line. 

Arteta has already been forced to name five back fours in the Gunners’ opening eight league games, with a sixth combination set to come in play against Liverpool. 

When was the last time Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba didn’t play together?

While Arteta has become accustomed to having different back fours this season, the boss is set to come up against a different magnitude of challenge on match day nine.

This is not just because of the form that Arne Slot’s side arrive at the Emirates in, but because for the first time in a year, Arsenal will play in the Premier League without Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes starting alongside each other. 

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Saliba’s suspension means that Gabriel will have a different partner against Liverpool, representing the first time since October 2023 that this has happened.

Since that day, Arteta has started his favoured centre-backs side by side in every Premier League fixture, with a different calibre of challenge coming on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal’s record without Saliba is one thing to consider, but a thought will also be spared to who Gabriel will fuse with to keep Liverpool at bay, giving the manager a key decision to make.