Arsenal blessed with triple injury boost for Liverpool as Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori updates issued

By Ben Knapton | 30 Oct 2026 14:23, Last updated: 30 Oct 2026 14:23

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed a triple wounded boost for the Gunners up of Sunday's Premier League blockbuster distant to Liverpool.

The reigning English champions caput to Anfield nether unit to respond to Tuesday's harrowing EFL Cup fourth-round nonaccomplishment to Fleetwood Town, which six players missed done injury.

Long-term absentees Bukayo Saka (quad) and William Saliba (back) are inactive connected the mend, but nary of Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke oregon Christos Tzolis were acceptable to instrumentality portion either.

Rice and Calafiori some sustained issues successful past weekend's 2-0 triumph implicit Everton, portion Madueke was ruled retired earlier the travel to Highbury owing to an ankle injury.

However, Arteta delivered affirmative updates connected Rice, Tzolis and Calafiori successful his pre-game property conference, saying: "They each trained today, they volition bid time and if everything is OK they volition beryllium available."

Declan Rice, Christos Tzolis, Riccardo Calafiori bid earlier Liverpool vs. Arsenal

Tzolis has missed Arsenal's past six matches successful each competitions owed to a thigh wounded helium sustained with Greece during the astir caller planetary break, since erstwhile Eberechi Eze has been filling successful connected the near flank.

Eze and Madueke person been granted much opportunities to impressment owed to the absences of Tzolis and Saka, but Arteta could not corroborate that Madueke would beryllium acceptable for the clash with Liverpool.

"We don't cognize yet, we person a grooming league time and spot if helium tin implicit the afloat session," Arteta added, arsenic helium prepares to perchance beryllium without 3 right-wingers amid Max Dowman's suspension.

The 16-year-old was sent disconnected astatine Fleetwood for kicking retired astatine Harrison Neal pursuing a crunching tackle from the League Two man, and Arsenal failed with an entreaty to person his reddish paper overturned.

Dowman present begins a three-game home ban, and Arteta did not fell his vexation astatine the rejected entreaty verdict, adding: "Very disappointed. Especially with the reckless tackle that helium received and his absorption is minimal successful narration to the action. We person enactment each statement connected the table, not lone the action. 

"You person to work the discourse of the player, the age, and what happened previously. It could person been truly bad, and we are fortunate helium hasn't had a breached foot."

How Arsenal could enactment up without Saka, Dowman, Madueke

Should Dowman, Saka and Madueke each beryllium retired Liverpool vs. Arsenal, Arteta whitethorn beryllium forced to tract Tzolis connected the right-hand broadside instantly aft his betterment from a hamstring concern.

While predominantly a left-sided attacker, Tzolis has played 26 games astatine close helping during his nine vocation - according to Transfermarkt - scoring six goals and mounting up 5 much from specified a role.

Arteta's lone different alternate with nary Saka, nary Dowman and nary Madueke would beryllium to deploy Kai Havertz connected the right-hand side, arsenic the German has played 53 times arsenic a close winger, but not since his Chelsea days successful 2022-23.