The Absence Of The Main Arsenal Stricker From The Liverpool Match

Arsenal have fitness concerns over Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko ahead of their FA Cup clash with Liverpool.

Reports on Sunday morning claimed Jesus has suffered a knee injury. The severity of the issue is unclear but Arsenal will hope it will not be a long-term problem.

Zinchenko missed last weekend’s defeat at Fulham due to a calf problem and Mikel Arteta said he would make a late call on the left-back after training on Saturday.

“He’s progressing well,” said Arteta on Friday. “We have another training session tomorrow. We’ll evaluate if he’s available to play and ready to start the game.”

Provided their third-round tie is not a draw and there is no replay, Arsenal do not play again until January 20 and Arteta is expected to name a strong side.Arteta would not reveal who will be in goal but Aaron Ramsdale could get a rare start in place of David Raya.

Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, and Jurrien Timber remain sidelined, while Mohamed Elneny has linked up with the Egypt squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations and Takehiro Tomiyasu is heading off to the Asian Cup with Japan.

Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

Injured: Partey (thigh), Timber (knee), Vieira (groin)

Doubts: Jesus (knee), Zinchenko (calf)

Unavailable: Elneny (AFCON), Tomiyasu (Asian Cup)

Arsenal squad from: Ramsdale, Raya, Hein; Gabriel, Cedric, Kiwior, Saliba, White, Zinchenko; Havertz, Jorginho, Odegaard, Rice, Smith Rowe; Jesus, Martinelli, Nelson, Nketiah, Saka and Trossard

Time and date: 4.30pm GMT on Sunday, January 7, 2024

Venue: Emirates Stadium