Arsenal are preparing to face Liverpool at the Emirates on Thursday night, looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners currently have a six-point gap over rivals Manchester City in the Premier League, after City dropped points against Chelsea last weekend. Arsenal managed to beat Bournemouth, and go into their next game on a seven game winning streak in all competitions.
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Mikel Arteta won’t be taking it lightly though, as their next test is one of the two teams who have been able to beat them this season, Liverpool. Arne Slot’s side have begun to recapture some form, but still sit just fourth in the league, 14 points behind the Gunners.
Even more encouraging for Arteta, is that just three players are set to be unavailable with injuries. Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Max Dowman are out, but he has a fully fit squad other than that.
Hincapie starts ahead of Lewis-Skelly in defence
GK – David Raya – Raya conceded two goals against Bournemouth, so he will hope to get back to a clean sheet this week.
LB – Piero Hincapie – Arteta has preferred Hincapie at left-back rather than Myles Lewis-Skelly in recent weeks.
CB – Gabriel – Gabriel scored against Bournemouth, after gifting the Cherries the opening goal, just minutes prior.
CB – William Saliba – Saliba will hope to also be more defensively solid against Liverpool, after conceding two last time out.
RB – Jurrien Timber – Timber is fully fit again, and he will likely come up against either Florian Wirtz, or Cody Gakpo.
Rice starts after Arsenal brace
CM – Martin Zubimendi –Zubimendi keeps his place in the holding midfield role for the game against Liverpool.
CM – Declan Rice – Rice scored twice for Arsenal in their last game, including the winning goal to claim all three points.
CAM – Martin Odegaard – In recent weeks, Arteta has preferred Odegaard in midfield rather than Eberechi Eze.
Saka returns to the starting XI
LW – Leandro Trossard –Trossard has been the better between him and Martinelli in the past month or so.
RW – Bukayo Saka – Saka was rested against Bournemouth, he should be back for the Liverpool match.
ST – Viktor Gyokeres – Gyokeres will be desperate to get back to scoring form for Arsenal, as he remains under pressure to perform.