JAKARTA - Not the right time for Arsenal to welcome Liverpool to the big match in the English Premier League at the Emirates Stadium, Sunday, October 27, 2024 evening WIB. The player injury storm made it difficult for manager Mikel Arteta to sleep.
Liverpool have the potential to block Arsenal's pace. Moreover, Liverpool did not want to lose points to defend the throne of the standings which Manchester City could have won first.
Yes, the day before or Saturday, October 25, 2024 evening WIB, Man City hosted Southampton's minor opponents. On paper, Man City will have no trouble over Soton. Even Pep Guardiola's team is predicted to win big over their opponents as well as shift Liverpool.
Liverpool can only return to the top if they beat Arsenal. Only, the Gunners also need a win. The surprising defeat against Bournemouth made Arsenal fail to keep a clear point with Liverpool and Man City. This is what makes Arsenal going all out in that big match.
The problem with the big match was not the right moment for Declan Rice et al. How not, a storm of injuries from players hit the North London club.
Last defender Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury when Arsenal won 1-0 over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League match. He followed Jurrien Timber who had already pulled over. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka, who had pulled over, may have recovered and could be played in that match.
Not only that, captain Martin Odegaard is still recovering after a ligament injury that took several months to completely recover. His removal again, defender William Saliba was also absent due to a ban on playing.
"Usually, in my head there is already a picture of the line-up of the players and I can sleep well. But sometimes you have to wait until the next day to get the line up," Arteta said as quoted by The Sun.
"Sometimes two or three days earlier, you could set the line up. What to do when facing a certain team. But you are faced with uncertainty when a player is injured," he said again.
"When you lose the captain, it's definitely a big problem. But what if you also lose a centre-back, defender, striker and winger... The first thing to do is adapt and maintain the confidence and confidence of the players. Moreover, we are a big team," said the 42nd Spanish man.
Arteta admitted that any team did not expect the situation of many injured players. But according to him, Arsenal has the ability to overcome the situation.
"Obviously, we don't want to be in a situation like this. But I was lucky with the players, the squad I had. Likewise their attitude and character. We are a team that knows that we are a good team and can make it difficult for opponents," said Arteta again.
In that match, Arteta could still rely on Kai Havertz in front. He was supported by Saka, if he recovered from injury, and Gabriel Martinelli. Meanwhile, behind the Ben White quartet, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko were the first choices. They can still be strong bulwarks of defense against the onslaught of the Reds.
Liverpool is also in a bad situation. The mainstay duo, goalkeeper Alisson Becker and striker Diogo Jota have not recovered. They were absent when LIverpool beat RB Leipzig 1-0 in the Champions League match.
"Jota is definitely absent (at Sunday's match)," said manager Arne Slot.
Although not down with the best squad, Slot is optimistic about maintaining a winning record even though he has to face tough opponents in domestic competitions.
"We have to be able to take points from our competitors. When we start the competition, we don't know who is our toughest competitor. But everyone knows Arsenal is one of them. So it's important for us to win points against them," said Slot.
"It's simple, if Liverpool win, the map in the standings will change. The problem is it's difficult to beat Arsenal in our away game. That's how it is when we face Man City or others. But we will try our best in this match," he said.
Slot did not change the starting line up much like when they beat Leipzig. Striker Darwin Nunez is back as a starter to replace Jota. He received support from Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz.
Meanwhile, in the middle, Liverpool relied on Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch's mobility as balancers for the rhythm of the team's game. Behind, captain Virgil van Dijk will coordinate the defense sector and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelher stands again under the bar.
Arsenal Lineup Forecast (4-3-3): Raya; Kiwior, White, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Merino, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Neckneck; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
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