Mikel Arteta has to go back to the drawing board to figure out his starting team due to the growing list of players who are injured or suspended. And with a Champions League game coming up against Shakhtar Donetsk mid-week and a massive clash against Liverpool on the weekend, Arsenal must do everything to prove themselves worthy of calling themselves title contenders.
But Mikel Arteta is not ordinary. He is a manager who likes to experiment with tactics and play players in different positions to maximize the talent at his disposal.
With key players Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard out through injury, and William Saliba facing suspension, the Arsenal manager will be hoping for some favorable developments before Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates.
If that’s what Arteta was wishing for, then some things have certainly gone his way.
Liverpool could Be without Jota for Emirates showdown
Diogo Jota, a player known for putting Arsenal through their paces in recent games, may find himself out of contention for the clash. With six goals against Arsenal in the last six seasons, Arteta can breathe a sigh of relief with Jota potentially sidelined.
With Alisson already out and Alexis Mac Allister a doubt, another ray of hope for Arteta is the fact that Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-1 in the same fixture last season. Given his record against the big six, this match could tilt in Arsenal’s favor.
As the week progresses, managing player fitness will be crucial for the Gunners.
With the Champions League and a league match against Liverpool back-to-back, he will need to assess his squad carefully. Possibly rotating players to keep them fresh while ensuring that he finds a perfect team to take on the physical demands of the schedule over the next few days as he prepares his team for these important fixtures.
