An Arsenal defender has a fresh fitness concern ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool
Mikel Arteta, Head coach of Arsenal looks on.
Mikel Arteta, Head coach of Arsenal looks on.
Liverpool will host Premier League champions Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday.
Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, with goals from Ezri Konsa and Gabriel, and moved level on 21 points with Manchester City.
Liverpool followed on Sunday with a 2-0 home win over Brighton, courtesy of a Pascal Gross own goal and a finish from Alexander Isak. It was their first home league win of the season.
Both clubs have Carabao Cup ties before the weekend.
Arsenal visit League Two side Fleetwood Town in the fourth round on Tuesday, with an 8pm kick-off. The tie gives Mikel Arteta an opportunity to rotate his squad.
Liverpool face Premier League opposition instead, hosting Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday, also at 8pm.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have a fitness question in defence.
Arteta confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori had a “slight issue” at the end of the win over Everton, which forced Noni Madueke to fill in at left-back.
Calafiori had started every league match this season but began on the bench, with Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back. The Italian came on in the second half. He went straight down the tunnel at full-time.
“Yeah I wasn’t that mad to change those two from their positions,” Arteta said.
“It was because he had a slight issue, we don’t know what it is, it seems to be something very small, but he was cautious about it.”
Calafiori moved further forward late on, and Madueke dropped back to left-back. Madueke had started on the right wing, with Bukayo Saka out through a quad injury, and Arteta praised his performance.
Calafiori was not the only defender to cause concern. Gabriel appeared to hurt his right knee early in the second half, and Arteta admitted the club were scared. Gabriel played on and scored Arsenal’s second goal.
Summer signing Christos Tzolis is closing in on a return for this weekend’s clash against Liverpool after suffering an injury while on international duty with Greece.
Liverpool have a concern of their own. Florian Wirtz was replaced in the 65th minute against Brighton with an ankle problem, and Andoni Iraola gave an encouraging early assessment.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong and Victor Munoz were already unavailable for the Brighton game.
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Gilberto Mora of Mexico gestures during the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball 2026 match between Mexico and Ecuador. Mexico hosted Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico Soccer 2026: Mexico 2:0 Ecuador - FIFA World Cup 2026 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAf196 20260630_zsp_f196_043 Copyright: xMartinxFonsecax
Gilberto Mora of Mexico gestures during the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball 2026 match between Mexico and Ecuador. Mexico hosted Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico Soccer 2026: Mexico 2:0 Ecuador - FIFA World Cup 2026 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAf196 20260630_zsp_f196_043 Copyright: xMartinxFonsecax
Ronald Araujo
Ronald Araujo