Arsenal face a big challenge as they prepare to play Liverpool in the Premier League. They will be without William Saliba for this important match. Saliba got a red card in Arsenal’s game against Bournemouth. This means he is suspended for the Liverpool game. Arsenal have not played a league game without Saliba since March 2023. This shows how important he is to the team.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, must now find a way to replace Saliba. He has three main options to consider. Each option has its own advantages and potential problems.
The first option is to play Jurrien Timber at center-back. Timber has been playing well for Arsenal this season. He usually plays as a full-back. But he has experience playing as a center-back from his time at Ajax. Timber could be a good partner for Gabriel in defense. Gabriel is an aggressive defender who likes to move forward. Timber’s speed could help cover behind Gabriel.
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However, there is a problem with this option. Timber has missed Arsenal’s last two games because of an injury. He also missed playing for the Netherlands national team. It’s not clear if he will be fully fit for the Liverpool game.
The second option is to play Ben White at center-back. This might seem unusual to fans who have watched Arsenal recently. White usually plays as a right-back now. But he has played as a center-back for Arsenal before. In the 2021-22 season, White formed a good partnership with Gabriel in the center of defense. White joined Arsenal from Brighton for £50 million that summer.
If White moves to center-back, Arteta would need to find a new right-back. One possibility is to play Thomas Partey in this position. Partey usually plays in midfield, but 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, a team from a lower league.
But Calafiori has more experience as a center-back than many people realize. He played very well in this position for Italy during Euro 2024. Arteta might choose this option for a specific reason. If Calafiori plays center-back, it could allow Timber to play as left-back. This could be helpful for defending against Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s dangerous attacker.
Arteta often likes to use a right-footed player at left-back when playing against Salah. In the past, he has often chosen Takehiro Tomiyasu for this job. But Tomiyasu is currently injured. Timber could take on this role if he is fit to play.
Each of these options has its strengths and weaknesses. Arteta must consider several factors when making his decision. He needs to think about the fitness of his players. He also needs to consider how well each option would work against Liverpool’s strong attack.
The game against Liverpool is very important for Arsenal. Liverpool are currently leading the Premier League. Arsenal need to win this game to keep their hopes of winning the league alive. The decision about how to replace Saliba could have a big impact on 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 known for his speed, strength, and ability to read the game well. Whoever replaces him will have a difficult job.
The choice Arteta makes could also affect how Arsenal play in attack. Different defenders have different strengths when it comes to passing the ball and starting attacks. This could change how Arsenal build their attacks from the back.
Arsenal’s fans will be watching closely to see what Arteta decides. Many will have their own opinions about what the best option is. But ultimately, it’s Arteta’s decision to make. He will have to use all his experience and knowledge to make the right choice.
The game against Liverpool is more than just a normal league match. It could have a big impact on the race for the Premier League title. A win for Arsenal would boost their confidence and keep them in the title race. A loss could make it very difficult for them to catch up with Liverpool.
This situation shows how important squad depth is in the Premier League. Even top teams like Arsenal can face problems when key players are unavailable. How well a team can cope without its best players can often decide how successful they are over a whole season.
Whatever option Arteta chooses, Arsenal will need to play well as a team to beat Liverpool. They will need to defend well without Saliba and also create chances to score. The whole team will need to work together to make up for the absence of such an important player.
