Mikel Arteta Drops Big Hint Over Starting Arsenal Left-back vs Liverpool After Calafiori Injury Blow

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a significant hint regarding his choice of starting left-back for the upcoming Premier League match against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Gunners celebrated a return to form with a victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, winning 1-0 thanks to an own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk. Gabriel Martinelli’s powerful shot set up the decisive moment in the match.

However, the game concluded on a disappointing note as Riccardo Calafiori sustained a knee injury, making him a major doubt for the clash against Liverpool this weekend.

In our opinion, Arteta has hinted strongly at who may replace Calafiori, based on his selections in the recent match. Although Oleksandr Zinchenko was available on the bench following his return from injury, Arteta opted for Myles Lewis-Skelly instead.

Lewis-Skelly has limited experience, with only one Premier League appearance to his name, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he is chosen to start over Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior. Kiwior’s chances of starting appear slim after he made a notable mistake in the defeat to Bournemouth.

The same assessment applies to Zinchenko, who has remained an unused substitute since returning from injury.

The Ukraine international has shown vulnerability during counter-attacks and tends to position himself poorly, making him a potential target for Mohamed Salah.

Another possibility for the left-back position is Jurrien Timber, provided he is fit. However, the Dutch player might be needed to partner Gabriel Magalhaes in central defense due to William Saliba’s suspension.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is also a viable alternative, but his inclusion in the starting lineup may be reconsidered given his limited playtime. He has only appeared for six minutes since the pre-season because of a knee issue.

Given these considerations, it appears that Lewis-Skelly is in line to make his full Premier League debut at left-back.

The 18-year-old played the last 23 minutes against Shakhtar, demonstrating his potential with a passing accuracy of 100%, one duel won, and one blocked shot.

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