William Saliba Suspension Forces Mikel Arteta to Reconsider Arsenal’s Defense for Anfield Clash
William Saliba’s suspension for Arsenal’s upcoming clash against Liverpool at Anfield has left Mikel Arteta with a significant defensive dilemma.
Saliba, a key figure in Arsenal’s backline, received a straight red card in the match against Bournemouth for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, ruling him out of the crucial fixture against the Reds.
Arteta’s most likely solution to cover for Saliba’s absence is to move Ben White back into the center-back position alongside Gabriel.
Although White has primarily played as a right-back in recent seasons, he has experience as a central defender, where he partnered with Gabriel during his early days at Arsenal.
While other defenders like Riccardo Calafiori, Jakub Kiwior, and Jurrien Timber are options, White appears to be the frontrunner to fill Saliba’s void.
However, shifting White to center-back comes with potential risks. Arsenal fans will remember the difficult experience when White and Gabriel lined up together in defense at Anfield back in 2021.
During that match, Liverpool’s dynamic attack exploited the defensive duo’s weaknesses, resulting in a 4-0 loss for the Gunners. Diogo Jota, in particular, caused significant problems with his movement and positioning, which led to goals for Liverpool.
Despite those past struggles, Arsenal’s defensive setup has evolved since then, and they have become a more solid unit.
The current system typically employs a back-four with more natural center-backs, which has strengthened their defensive stability.
Nonetheless, Arteta will be cautious and well aware of the threat that Liverpool’s attack poses, especially given the Reds’ history of dismantling Arsenal’s defense.
Ben White has also acknowledged the challenge posed by facing players like Diogo Jota, noting his speed, strength, and technical ability.
The English defender will aim to use the lessons learned from previous encounters to better handle Liverpool’s threat this time around.
Arteta will hope that this defensive reshuffle won’t disrupt Arsenal’s recent progress at the back and that White’s experience alongside Gabriel will help the Gunners cope with Liverpool’s attacking prowess at Anfield.
William Saliba Suspension Forces Mikel Arteta to Reconsider Arsenal’s Defense for Anfield Clash
