Arsenal journalist Charles Watts has shared his thoughts on how Mikel Arteta might set up his team for their upcoming clash against Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.
The Gunners are facing a tough away match on Sunday, made even more difficult by the likely absence of Bukayo Saka, who was forced off during the recent win over Leeds United. In his exclusive column for CaughtOffside, Watts revealed that Saka is expected to be sidelined for around three to four weeks due to a hamstring injury.
Replacing Saka won’t be easy given his importance to the team, but Watts believes that summer signing Noni Madueke is the most likely candidate to take his place. Madueke, who joined from Chelsea, is versatile and capable of playing on either wing, making him a strong option to step in.
Ethan Nwaneri is another player who could fill in, although Watts suggests he may be more suited to replacing Martin Odegaard in the midfield if the Arsenal captain isn’t fit to play. While Odegaard’s availability remains uncertain, initial scans following both his and Saka’s injuries brought relief, indicating that neither was as serious as first feared.
Watts commented:
“Saka will definitely miss the Liverpool match and won’t be available for England during the international break. A three to four-week recovery is seen as a best-case scenario, and both the player and the club are relieved it’s not worse.”
He went on to say:
“I expect Noni Madueke to start in Saka’s place at Anfield — a huge opportunity for him, especially given the questions raised around his signing. A strong performance in such a high-stakes game could silence the critics.”
As for Odegaard’s status, Watts added:
“If he’s not fit, it’ll be fascinating to see who Arteta turns to. I’d personally love to see Eberechi Eze make his first start, but Ethan Nwaneri is also a possibility. Starting him in such a big game would be a major vote of confidence from Arteta.”
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