(4-2-2-2): Mikel Arteta introduced a new formation to accommodates Timber, Saliba, Calafiori and others as all Injured players returns including Saka
Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of Bukayo Saka ahead of their Premier League showdown with Liverpool.
Saka has been out since suffering a hamstring injury on England duty and Mikel Arteta has said it is “very uncertain” whether he and Jurrien Timber will be fit.
“He’s done a bit of training on the grass,” said Arteta about Saka on Friday. “How far we can get him before Sunday is another question. We have another day, which is a good thing. We will see.”
Timber is also back in training but he has not played since the start of this month due to a muscle issue.
“Timber, it was the first session that he could have some involvement,” said Arteta on Friday. “He’s been out for a while. We expected him to be further along than he is at the moment. Again, we will have to see.”
Riccardo Calafiori is expected set to miss the Liverpool clash with the knee injury he suffered in the Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, which could leave Arteta with a headache at left-back.
“He needs some more tests,” said Arteta on Friday. “Yesterday he had some, today he’s going to have some more. After that, we will know. Last time we thought it was really bad and then he ended up playing two days later. So let’s see.”
Arsenal predicted XI (4-2-2-2): Raya; Partey, White, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino; Saka; Martinelli; Havertz, Trossard
Doubts: Calafiori (knee), Saka (hamstring), Timber (unspecified muscular problem)
Injured: Odegaard (ankle), Tierney (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee)
Suspended: Saliba
Time and date: 4:30pm GMT on Sunday October 27, 2024
TV channel: Sky Sports
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Arsenal squad from: Neto, Raya, Setford; Calafiori, Gabriel, Heaven, Kiwior, Timber, White, Zinchenko; Havertz, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Partey, Rice; Jesus, Martinelli, Saka, Sterling and Trossard
