Arsenal center-back William Saliba was sent off in their Premier League game against Bournemouth on Saturday, ruling him out of next weekend’s clash against Liverpool.
The France international has been a major part of Mikel Arteta’s side since returning to the club following loan spells in his home country. Saliba didn’t miss a league game for the Gunners last season and his continued presence in the heart of the backline this campaign will be brought to an end when Arsenal host the Reds.
Saliba was shown a straight red card in the first half following a VAR check. Referee Rob Jones initially booked Saliba for pulling back Evanilson as the Brazilian looked to be running clean through on the Arsenal goal chasing a sliced pass from Leandro Trossard. Upon review, Saliba was adjudged to have denied a goalscoring opportunity and was given his marching orders.
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The 24-year-old will serve a one-game ban, which will see him miss the Liverpool game and simultaneously deal Arteta a major headache heading into the crunch game. Barring any injury concerns sustained in midweek when Arsenal face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, Saliba’s ever-present partner, Gabriel Magalhaes will keep his place in the team.
However, that’s where the certainties end, with Arteta having a number of options available to him. After the Gunners were reduced to 10 men, Arteta sacrificed Raheem Sterling for Jakub Kiwior to boost the visitor’s back to a four-man defense. The Pole only featured as a late substitute in two league games so far this season and has an unwanted history against the Reds.
Over the New Year period and opening weeks of this year, Kiwior held down a place at left-back in the side, including in the FA Cup third-round tie in January, which the Reds won 2-0 and the defender scored an own goal to break the deadlock. However, despite coming on as a first-half substitute, Kiwior was hooked by Arteta in the second having poorly given away possession which led to a Bournemouth penalty that was converted to give the Cherries their decisive 2-0 lead.
Other options for Arteta would involve shuffling the pack in the defensive line. Arsenal’s two starting full-backs against Bournemouth of Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are both well versed at playing at center-back, although Calafiori’s only experience playing that role since joining the Gunners in the summer came in the Carabao Cup against Bolton, meaning White would be the more likely option.
Should Arteta opt to move one of his full-backs into the middle of the defense, then Oleksandr Zinchenko would be on hand to come in at left-back. Alternatively, Thomas Partey could be moved into right-back from his holding midfield role. Meanwhile, Jurrien Timber, who would be an option at full-back or centre-back missed the trip to Bournemouth through injury but could return to face Liverpool.
Arsenal’s first defeat of the season saw them unable to take advantage of Liverpool and Manchester City playing on Sunday and climb to the summit of the table – remaining level of points with the champions and one point behind the league-leading Reds before both are in action this weekend.
