Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has given a significant clue about his starting left-back for the upcoming Premier League match against Liverpool. This comes after Arsenal's recent victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
The Gunners bounced back with a 1-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk, thanks to an own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk. Gabriel Martinelli’s powerful shot set up the winning goal. However, the game ended on a bitter note as Riccardo Calafiori sustained a knee injury and is now doubtful for the weekend clash against Liverpool.
Arteta seems to have already hinted at Calafiori’s replacement based on his choice during last night's game. Despite having Oleksandr Zinchenko available following his injury return, Arteta opted for Myles Lewis-Skelly instead. Lewis-Skelly has only made one Premier League appearance off the bench so far but could be chosen ahead of Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior to start this time around.
Many players in contention
Kiwior recently made a high-profile error in their defeat to Bournemouth which makes him unlikely to get selected as starter. Similarly, Zinchenko hasn't been used since returning from injury due to vulnerabilities in counter-attacks and positional errors that could potentially give Mohamed Salah an advantage.
Jurrien Timber is another potential candidate for left-back if fit; however, he may partner with Gabriel Magalhaes in central defence due to William Saliba being suspended. Takehiro Tomiyasu is also an option but might not be risked in starting XI owing to limited playtime since pre-season because of a knee issue.
Likely choice
Given these circumstances, it seems likely that Lewis-Skelly could make his full Premier League debut as left-back. The 18-year-old performed well in the final 23 minutes of Shakhtar match, boasting a passing accuracy of 100 per cent with one duel won and one blocked shot.
While Arteta's hint is not a definitive decision, it does provide some insight into his thought process ahead of the crucial match against Liverpool. Regardless of who starts at left-back, Arsenal fans will be hoping for a strong performance to secure another victory.
