The worst thing that any manager can have happen is a problem with a member of his starting eleven in the hours leading up to a massive game. Mikel Arteta may now need to navigate this as Liverpool come to the Emirates for tonight’s clash.
Gabriel Magalhaes was reportedly not spotted at Arsenal’s training ground yesterday. The Brazilian’s absence is yet to be confirmed however it is understood his girlfriend is nine months pregnant and therefore this could have some part to play.
These are the moments that Mikel Arteta will be tested in as the close of the season determines whether Arsenal are worthy of a top-four finish. The Spanish coach must respond like Thomas Tuchel has with Chelsea’s injury issues.
READ MORE: Arsenal didn't fall for Liverpool mind games and Mikel Arteta has plan for inevitable Mo Salah
READ MORE: Edu costly Man City transfer defeat should spark Arsenal's bold South America rethink
Arteta has options should Gabriel not be available this evening. The first is a like for like swap with Rob Holding coming in alongside Ben White.
Holding has been a valuable asset for Arsenal and has already locked out Liverpool when he came on to help the Gunners maintain their clean sheet at Anfield. After Granit Xhaka’s sending off, Arteta called on the former Bolton man and he didn’t disappoint.
He repeated this against Wolves at Molineux. Another red card, this time to Gabriel Martinelli, forced Arteta into a defensive swap and Holding again impressed.
The other option was a choice already being discussed by supporters even if Gabriel had been ready to play. The change from the consistent back four to a back three instead.
An attempt to try and mitigate the overpowering Liverpool front three and rampaging full-backs. Having the ability to double up on Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will certainly be of benefit to the Gunners.
The make-up of the back three without Gabriel however raises questions. Holding would still come in but the third centre-half with White would almost certainly need to be Kieran Tierney.
The Scotland international has played in the left centre-half role next to his Liverpool compatriot Robertson. He has performed excellently there and has a history of winning the FA Cup with Mikel Arteta performing in that exact position.
This would bring Nuno Tavares into the team for his first start since the infamous Nottingham Forest substitution controversy. Unhappy with his performance, Arteta hauled the Portuguese full-back off to the player’s annoyance.
The problem is that a central midfielder would surely need to be sacrificed in order to make the switch to the three. Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka have been brilliant in the 4-3-3 formation that Arteta has changed to.
All three are undroppable meaning that a midfield two of Partey and Xhaka cannot be broken where Odegaard would likely operate in a wider role. Bukayo Saka could therefore either play as either wing-back or be swapped to the left-wing position.
Arteta needs to get his decision spot on. Should he not, Jurgen Klopp will surely have the tools to exploit the weaknesses in the Arsenal armour but whatever the Spaniard chooses is sure to make for some spectacle this evening.
