Arsenal defender suffers fresh fitness issue ahead of Liverpool clash

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from DaveOCKOP or go back to LFC Live.

An Arsenal defender has a fresh fitness concern ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool Liverpool will host Premier League champions Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday.Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, with goals from Ezri Konsa and Gabriel, and moved level on 21 points with Manchester City.Liverpool followed on Sunday with a 2-0 home win over Brighton, courtesy of a Pascal Gross own goal and a finish from Alexander Isak. The tie gives Mikel Arteta an opportunity to rotate his squad.Liverpool face Premier League opposition instead, hosting Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday, also at 8pm.Arsenal, meanwhile, have a fitness question in defence.Arteta confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori had a “slight issue” at the end of the win over Everton, which forced Noni Madueke to fill in at left-back.Calafiori had started every league match this season but began on the bench, with Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.

Madueke had started on the right wing, with Bukayo Saka out through a quad injury, and Arteta praised his performance.Calafiori was not the only defender to cause concern. Gabriel appeared to hurt his right knee early in the second half, and Arteta admitted the club were scared.

Gabriel played on and scored Arsenal’s second goal.Summer signing Christos Tzolis is closing in on a return for this weekend’s clash against Liverpool after suffering an injury while on international duty with Greece.Liverpool have a concern of their own. Florian Wirtz was replaced in the 65th minute against Brighton with an ankle problem, and Andoni Iraola gave an encouraging early assessment.Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong and Victor Munoz were already unavailable for the Brighton game.Support DaveOCKOP and enjoy the site completely ad-free.