Arsenal face one of their toughest tests this season against league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium at 4.30pm UK time on Sunday.
Manager Mikel Arteta wanted his team to provide a strong response after their recent 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League, and the boys didn’t disappoint.
They maintained a perfect start to the UCL season with another major victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. But the win came with an unfortunate cost.
CALAFIORI’S INJURY COULD SPARK A CHANGE IN ARSENAL’S LINEUP
Ricardo Calafiori suffered a setback in the 72nd minute as he fell awkwardly on his right knee, sparking fears that he damaged his medial lateral collateral issue.
The Italian media downplayed such rumours, saying that the injury is not as serious as initially expected. However, the left-back is expected to miss the Nations League clash against France and Belgium.
He has now joined Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard in the treatment room, and as per sources, the former Bologna ace is not fit enough to feature against the Reds in a few days.
🚨BREAKING: Riccardo Calafiori injury is NOT serious and he will be out only a few weeks after suffering mild damage to his MCL.
[@CorSport via @karthikadhaigal] pic.twitter.com/GlafNuvqoH
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) October 24, 2024
Arteta gave a worrying post-match update, stating that the injury is a concerning one and that losing the defender in the next PL game could prove to be a significant loss.
The Gunners are four points behind Arne Slot’s team, and a win this weekend will help them to close the gap at the top. However, they have to make some adjustments to the starting XI, particularly their defence, if they want to stop Liverpool’s fiery attack.
As stated by Will Balsam on X, the Gooners could be eyeing the left-back spot for improvements and might unearth a strategy first executed by legendary coach Arsene Wenger in 2017.
The former boss didn’t shy away from the daunting prospect of facing Community Shield foes Liverpool, and for that, he made an experimental yet risky move. The then-20-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles was picked ahead of senior defender Sead Kolasinac at the LB spot.
The outcome was even more outrageous, as the young English star kept the in-form Mohamed Salah guessing as the game ended in a 3-3 draw. The Academy star had overseen just 183 minutes of PL prior to the game.
The move sounded crazy, but it was Wenger, the philosopher coach. And we firmly believe that Arteta can take a page out of the legendary boss’s books and plot a similar starting XI plan.
Is anything really out of his realm? The Spaniard has managed to bring out the versatility in some of the lesser-known players.
ARTETA COULD UNLEASH MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY AGAINST LIVERPOOL
Myles Lewis-Skelly is one such player who has received a lot of attention due to his commendable performances in the preseason games and now in domestic cup competitions.
The 18yo made an impressive cameo, entering the pitch in the 72nd minute to replace the injured Calafiori. It will be wonderful news if he is given a huge chance to prove his defensive skillsets.
The Academy graduate possesses excellent composure and calmness with the ball at his feet; he can make daunting runs in the opposition box due to his fast-paced style of play.
He has the mentality to play in such big games, and unleashing him against the league leaders could turn out to be a game-changing decision.
In 2017 Wenger entrusted Ainsley Maitland-Niles with handling Salah at LB for 90 mins. AMN had played just 183 PL min prior.
IF Calafiori is out, Arteta should do the same with Myles Lewis-Skelly. Composure and mentality are his strongest assets. He’s ready for the challenge. pic.twitter.com/GUDlGUBC7P
— Will Balsam (@willbalsam) October 23, 2024
The energetic English youngster could help the Gunners stop Salah on the flanks. Arteta needs a raw, hungry player to match the Egyptians’s speed in attack. Myles-Skelly can also play a box-to-box role when needed, giving an extra dimension to the team.
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Although some fans might think that the defender is still young and inexperienced to start in such crucial ties. But as history showed, a twist in the plans can churn out unexpected results.
Arsenal, is it worth a try?
