This weekend, Arsenal will play host to Liverpool FC in what is shaping up to be an early-season title showdown. Liverpool, who are currently in 1st place, have been flying under Arne Slot. They have won seven of their first eight games, with the lone loss to Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are currently in 3rd and are coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss to Bournemouth, where they received their third red card of the season. Arsenal defender William Saliba was sent off for taking down an attacker who was through on goal, and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) deemed that the attacker was the last man. However, Arsenal managed to bounce back by securing a 1-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League — needing an own goal to earn the three points.
With the absence of Saliba, Arsenal now have a piling list of first-team players who are ineligible to play. Martin Odegaard, who is currently suffering from an ankle injury, still looks unlikely to play. Bukayo Saka, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, is also missing through injury. Jurrien Timber and new signing Riccardo Calafiori will miss the game, as per Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Liverpool will also be missing some important players themselves. Diogo Jota, who suffered torso bruising versus Chelsea, will be out. Alisson Becker will still be sidelined, which means deputy goalkeeper Caohmin Kelleher will man the sticks for the Reds. Harvey Elliot remains unavailable, and Federico Chiesa and Conor Bradley are a few weeks away from returning to training.
Arsenal striker Kai Havertz has scored in his last five appearances at the Emirates, a record that only Thierry Henry holds more of. If Arsenal are to get any joy from Liverpool, they must take advantage of his hot form.
Despite the injury woes, Arsenal are the favorites heading into this match. They won this same fixture last season 3-1, and are unbeaten in their last four league matches against Liverpool (2 wins, 2 draws). However, this is the first time Arteta and Arsenal will compete against Arne Slot in a competitive match. The two actually met in the preseason in the United States this year, where Liverpool won, although the dynamic of a competitive match will make a major difference.
It is for this reason, on top of Arsenal’s injury problems, that we can envision Liverpool making a big statement here. A victory for either side would be a statement, but Arsenal’s languishing performances in their last two games — on top of their absence list — make it difficult to pick them.
Result prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool
