Three ways Arsenal could line up without William Saliba against Liverpool

The defender was sent disconnected successful the 2-0 decision to Bournemouth and is suspended for the crippled showdown astatine Emirates Stadium.

Saliba played each infinitesimal successful the Premier League past play and the Arsenal person not started a league crippled without him since March 2023.

But Arteta present indispensable find a solution without the Frenchman arsenic Arsenal hole to instrumentality connected the leaders.

Here, Standard Sport assesses his options...

Jurrien Timber has been 1 of Arsenal’s prima performers this season.

The 23-year-old Dutchman has bounced backmost aft missing virtually each of past play owed to a superior genu injury.

Timber has played arsenic a full-back, but Arteta whitethorn beryllium tempted to usage him successful the bosom of defence against Liverpool.

He played determination during his clip with Ajax and was besides utilized determination by Arsenal during pre-season successful the summer.

Timber looked assured arsenic a centre-back, impressing with his quality connected the ball, and helium would beryllium an perfect spouse for Gabriel. The Brazilian is an aggressive, front-foot defender and Timber’s gait would mean helium could expanse down him arsenic cover.

The lone interest for Arsenal is that Timber has missed the past 2 games - and planetary work with the Netherlands - owed to a musculus issue.

Possible defence: White, Timber, Gabriel, Calafiori

It whitethorn look similar a distant memory, but Arsenal’s turnaround nether Arteta during the 2021-22 play progressive having White successful the bosom of defence.

The 27-year-old, who joined the summertime earlier from Brighton for £50million, formed an fantabulous concern with Gabriel.

White has since been converted to a right-back but helium could easy slot backmost into the mediate of a back-four. He besides has the added bonus of having a afloat season’s acquisition of playing alongside Gabriel.

It would look that Arteta present views Timber arsenic the first-choice screen for Saliba, judging by the information successful pre-season helium moved to centre-back and White stayed retired wide.

But, if Timber is struggling for fitness, White whitethorn spouse Gabriel and Thomas Partey could driblet into right-back.

Possible defence: Partey, White, Gabriel, Calafiori

This is astir apt the astir left-field enactment for Arteta.

Riccardo Calafiori has caught the oculus since joining Arsenal, but has chiefly been utilized astatine left-back.

The lone juncture helium has started arsenic a centre-back was successful the Carabao Cup past month, erstwhile Arsenal bushed League One broadside Bolton.

But Calafiori has plentifulness of acquisition arsenic a centre-back and excelled determination for Italy during Euro 2024.

Arteta could besides beryllium tempted to play him determination fixed the 22-year-old would beryllium up against Mohamed Salah astatine left-back connected Sunday.

Historically, Arteta has liked to person a right-footed subordinate astatine left-back erstwhile trying to halt Salah, with Takehiro Tomiyasu his preferred option.

The Japan planetary is presently retired with a genu issue, but Timber could fulfil the relation if fit.

That would permission Calafiori escaped to spouse Gabriel, and Arteta has shown helium is blessed to person 2 left-footed players astatine centre-back..

Possible defence: White, Calafiori, Gabriel, Timber