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Arsenal will play Liverpool in the Premier League. William Saliba cannot play in this game. Saliba got a red card against Bournemouth. He is suspended for the Liverpool match. Arsenal have not played a league game without Saliba since March 2023. Mikel Arteta must find a replacement for Saliba.

Arteta has three main options to consider. The first option is to play Jurrien Timber at center-back. Timber has played well for Arsenal this season. He usually plays as a full-back. Timber has experience as a center-back from his time at Ajax. He could partner well with Gabriel in defense. Gabriel likes to move forward to defend. Timber’s speed could help cover behind Gabriel. There is a problem with this option. Timber has missed Arsenal’s last two games due to injury. He also missed playing for the Netherlands national team.

It’s not clear if he will be fit for the Liverpool game. The second option is to play Ben White at center-back. White usually plays as a right-back now. He has played as a center-back for Arsenal before. White formed a good partnership with Gabriel in the 2021-22 season. Arsenal bought White from Brighton for £50 million. If White moves to center-back Arteta needs a new right-back. Thomas Partey could play as right-back. Partey usually plays in midfield.

He can also play as a defender. The third option is to play Riccardo Calafiori at center-back. This might surprise some people. Calafiori usually plays as a left-back for Arsenal. He has only started one game as a center-back for Arsenal. That was in a Carabao Cup game against Bolton. Bolton is a team from a lower league. Calafiori has more experience as a center-back than people think. He played well as a center-back for Italy during Euro 2024. Arteta might choose this option for a specific reason.

If Calafiori plays center-back Timber could play as left-back. This could help defend against Mohamed Salah. Salah is a dangerous attacker for Liverpool. Arteta often likes to use a right-footed player at left-back against Salah. He usually chooses Takehiro Tomiyasu for this job. Tomiyasu is currently injured. Timber could take on this role if he is fit to play. Each option has good points and bad points. Arteta must think carefully about his decision. He needs to consider the fitness of his players. He also needs to think about how each option would work against Liverpool’s attack. The game against Liverpool is very important for Arsenal. Liverpool are leading the Premier League. Arsenal need to win to keep their title hopes alive. The choice of Saliba’s replacement could affect the result.

Saliba’s absence is a big problem for Arsenal. He played every minute of every Premier League game last season. This shows how much Arteta trusts him. Saliba is fast and strong. He reads the game well. Whoever replaces him will have a difficult job. Arteta’s choice could change how Arsenal play in attack. Different defenders are better at passing and starting attacks. This could change how Arsenal build their attacks from the back. Arsenal fans will watch closely to see what Arteta decides. Many fans will have their own ideas about the best option.

But Arteta must make the final decision. He will use all his experience to choose. The Liverpool game is not just a normal league match. It could change the race for the Premier League title. A win for Arsenal would boost their confidence. It would keep them in the title race. A loss would make it hard for them to catch Liverpool. This situation shows why squad depth is important. Even top teams like Arsenal have problems when key players can’t play. How a team copes without its best players can decide their success. Whatever option Arteta chooses Arsenal must play well as a team. They need to defend well without Saliba.

They also need to create chances to score. The whole team must work together. They need to make up for Saliba’s absence. The choice of Saliba’s replacement is crucial. It could decide the outcome of the game. Arsenal’s defense must be strong against Liverpool’s attack. Liverpool have scored many goals this season. Arsenal’s replacement defender must perform well. They need to stop Liverpool’s forwards. Arsenal’s attack is also important. They need to score goals to win. The new defensive setup must not weaken Arsenal’s attack. Balance is key for Arsenal in this game. They must defend well and attack effectively. Arteta’s decision will show his tactical skills.

He must find the right solution to a difficult problem. The game will be a test for Arsenal’s squad depth. It will show if they can cope without a key player. The result could affect Arsenal’s confidence for future games. A good performance could boost the team’s belief. A poor performance could hurt their title hopes. The game is a chance for a player to step up. Someone can prove their worth to the team. It’s an opportunity to become a hero for Arsenal. The fans will support whoever Arteta chooses. They will hope for a strong team performance. The game is a big moment in Arsenal’s season. It could define their title challenge. Arteta’s decision is more than just picking a player. It’s about finding the right strategy to beat Liverpool.