Arsenal has 3 major injury absences and 2 key doubts ahead of Liverpool game

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It's far too soon to rule out any of the other potential candidates, but Manchester City and Chelsea have both already suffered chastening results against last seasons's 17th and 12th placed finishers respectively, denting any preseason optimism.

Arsenal, by contrast, has begun the season with two wins, although the convincing 5-0 rout of Leeds may have come at a significant cost.

A good chunk of that spell on the sidelines will be absorbed by the international break.

But it will rule him out of the Liverpool game.

And in spite of Arteta's summer splurge, Arsenal still looks a little light in forward areas, leaving a question mark over where the inspiration may come from in his absence.

Ordinarily, Martin Odegaard would be a prime candidate to step up.

But he, too, is a potential casualty of the Leeds game.

An impact against Liverpool would certainly endear him to his new fans, although his one goal in eight appearances against the Reds suggests the odds are not stacked in his favor.

Another new recruit, Christian Norgaard, completes the quintet of Arsenal players who are either out of the Liverpool game or in a race against time

The summer signing from Brentford missed the Leeds match, and will be touch and go for a competitive debut at Anfield.

Arteta ruled him out for "another week or so" prior to the Leeds game