Arteta Drops Hints About His Preferred Choice for Left-back Against Liverpool After Calafiori’s Injury

Mikel Arteta has reveals his choice for left-back ahead of Arsenal’s blockbuster Premier League match against Liverpool this Sunday.

The Gunners marked a return to form with a narrow 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, courtesy of an own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk after a powerful shot from Gabriel Martinelli.

However, the match concluded on a sad end, as Riccardo Calafiori sustained a knee injury, making him a doubt on his for the weekend Derby encounter against Liverpool.

Arteta’s decision making during the Shakhtar match gave a clear glimpse on who might fill the void left by Calafiori. Despite having Oleksandr Zinchenko available after his injury, Arteta chose Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has made only one brief Premier League appearance so far.

Given the current situation, it would not be surprising if the 18-year-old is selected to start against Liverpool and given the task to stop Mo Sallah, especially considering the options which are little.

Jakub Kiwior, another choice for the left-back position, made headlines for a costly error in the recent defeat to Bournemouth and appears unlikely to be trusted with a starting role. Zinchenko, while a part-time player, has been forced to bench duty since his return and has shown his weakness in counter-attacks, particularly against fast wingers like Mohamed Salah.

Jurrien Timber could also be considered if fit, yet his potential deployment in central defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes due to William Saliba’s suspension makes matters worse. Meanwhile, Takehiro Tomiyasu remains a possibility, though he has only played just six minutes this season due to ongoing knee issues.

Lewis-Skelly’s performance against Shakhtar, where he maintained a 100 per cent passing accuracy and contributed defensively, could see him earn his first Premier League start on Sunday. The young talent’s rapid growth is a sign of Arteta’s faith in youth, especially as the Gunners prepare for a crucial game away at Anfield against in+form Liverpool.