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Mikel Arteta has three potential solutions to Arsenal's defensive issues against Liverpool.

Arsenal will be missing a number of key players for Sunday's Premier League title battle with Liverpool.


While Mikel Arteta has ensured the Gunners have won more often than not since Martin Odegaard was injured in September, an increased amount of fitness issues have hampered their performances in recent weeks, and this weekend's encounter is one in which any slip-up may be catastrophic.

Arteta has already solved tactical conundrums, but how can he overcome a multitude of defensive absences and still win at the Emirates Stadium?

What is the crisis?


Players who have been frequent starters in Arsenal's defence this season are either unavailable or highly unlikely to play against Liverpool on Sunday.

William Saliba was sent off last week as Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season at Bournemouth. Arsenal decided not to appeal the red card, thus he will serve a one-game suspension against Arne Slot's Reds.

He was still available to play in the Champions League, which is where Riccardo Calafiori sustained his knee injury. While the north Londoners defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, Arteta provided a dismal report on the Italian international's injury.

Jurrien Timber hasn't played since a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the beginning of October, and Arteta is concerned about his fitness.

The Spaniard does have Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White available, but the door has been opened for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior to appear.

Solutions to Arsenal's defensive issue versus Liverpool.

Please pray that Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are fit.


Saliba and Gabriel are Arsenal's two most renowned defenders, but the variety that Timber and Calafiori bring to the team is a huge plus for Arteta. The two are tough tacklers with enough football IQ to play out of the backfield.

If both succeed on matchday, their manager will have additional options. Either of them might go into the middle to partner Gabriel, leaving Ben White to fill in whatever position is left open.

Timber and Calafiori were both part of the backline that nearly won a game against Manchester City, and their tenacity proved essential. If one or both are unavailable, Arteta will be forced to rely on a far weaker choice in reserve.

Potential lineup
White - Gabriel - Calafiori - timber

Play Jakub Kiwior as centre back.


Despite Arsenal's best efforts, a relatively unknown man may find himself playing important minutes against Liverpool.

Jakub Kiwior has only made brief appearances in the Gunners' lineup since joining in January of this year, but the unavailability of other players mean he has a very good possibility of playing a significant role at the Emirates.

His only club appearance in all competitions in 2024/25 came in a Carabao Cup hammering of Bolton Wanderers, but he represented Poland during the October international break and could be sharp enough to contribute on Sunday.

White, Gabriel, Kiwior, and Zinchenko

Park the bus with five defenders.


Okay, playing five defenders at home against championship rivals is probably not the way to inspire fans to leave their seats, but hear us out.

Arsenal produced their most cohesive collective defensive performance of the season after Leandro Trossard was sent off against Manchester City, with Timber, White, Saliba, Gabriel, and Calafiori nearly keeping the Premier League champions out for an entire half with one fewer player.

It would put the onus on Liverpool to dictate the game and attempt to break down what has shown to be an extremely robust defence in recent years. It might smell like anti-football, but image the scenes if it worked.

Partey, White, Gabriel, Kiwior, and Zinchenko
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Location: Liverpool, UK

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