Arsenal come up against Liverpool in another crucial Premier League encounter on Wednesday night. The Gunners have won their last five matches in the league but come up against a Jurgen Klopp team who are in similarly fine form.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has been on the sidelines over the past few weeks and has returned to training, although it remains to be whether he will be named in the squad for the match. “Tomi is the only one that's still there in contention [to miss the game]," said manager Mikel Arteta ahead of the game.
"We have been trying to push him, but with the handbrake a little bit because we need to be careful as we don’t want to get another injury with him. We don’t know [if tomorrow is too soon]. Let’s see how he trains today.”
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Arteta's side are on course to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in five years, and the manager says his team must handle the pressure that comes with the crunch games in the latter stage of the season. "Well, that’s the pressure of playing for this club, to be the best and we’re not there yet," he said.
"If the objective is that, it’s not pressure, it has to be a motivation, a challenge and a clear understanding that the purpose to play for this club is only to be the best and what we’ve done so far means absolutely nothing and I think everybody has to be encouraged and empowered by the possibility to find ways to improve and get better."
Arsenal are expected to field a relatively unchanged team from the win over Leicester, with Emile Smith Rowe a possibility to replace Gabriel Martinelli in the starting XI.
Cedric Soares, Ben White, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney will most likely play across the backline, with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey continuing in midfield. The impressive Martin Odegaard looks set to start in support of Bukayo Saka and captain Alexandre Lacazette upfront.
Predicted Arsenal XI vs Liverpool: Ramsdale, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Saka, Lacazette.
