Arne Slot has given Arsenal a small insight into the Liverpool potential of having Hugo Ekitike fit for the trip to the Emirates on Thursday
16:00, 05 Jan 2026
Hugo Ekitike is a doubt for Liverpool ahead of the trip to Arsenal
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Hugo Ekitike is a doubt for Liverpool ahead of the trip to Arsenal(Image: Getty)
Arsenal could face a strikerless Liverpool side on Thursday night as they look to further their hopes of winning the Premier League title. Another poor result for Arne Slot at Fulham will not have done much to encourage him that a win at the Emirates Stadium is any more feasible than before.
Liverpool are currently closer to 17th in the table than the table-topping Gunners in terms of points, as their status as champions is destined now to come to an end at a much sooner certainty than they would have liked and predicted. Whether it is Arsenal or Manchester City, however, is still to be decided, but Mikel Arteta’s side has now opened a six-point gap to their rivals.
A win over Liverpool was not possible at Anfield when the Reds were in a very different vein of form. It is certainly motivation for Arsenal to come out firing on the day and get revenge for the defeat on Merseyside.
There are planned pre-match displays, and Arteta wants a big atmosphere in the stadium on Thursday evening. Slot, meanwhile, is dealing with yet more problems.
In the draw with Fulham, Hugo Ekitike was not available, and Cody Gakpo started up top. With Alexander Isak not expected back for many months with a major leg injury and Mohamed Salah at the African Cup of Nations, unless Egypt lose to Benin on Monday in the last-16, then Slot could be again short of options.
Speaking ahead of the game, he explained why the young French forward was not included in the match.
“Alexander Isak has been out for a few weeks now,” Slot explained. “That has meant that Hugo had to play more minutes than he did throughout the whole season.”
“That has led to the fact that he picked up a slight hamstring injury, because we had to play him more and more and more minutes.”
Arsenal too have had issues and Arteta decided to rotate against Bournemouth with both Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka not in the starting eleven. Slot, though, does not yet know if Ekitike will be back, but is hopeful.
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“For a player that’s his age and is not used to the Premier League completely, that has been a bit too much,” Slot added.
“So, that’s why he will be out for today and hopefully be back for the Arsenal game, but that’s definitely not sure yet.”
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