Arsenal set for another big selection boost vs Liverpool

The international breaks were usually a time where Arsene Wenger would face a packed conference room bemoaning Theo Walcott’s fifth injury of the season and end up finding elaborate ways to patch up his Arsenal team.

Very rarely would a full complement of players be available when the Premier League returned, and while there are still a healthy amount of Mikel Arteta’s squad who’ve jetted off to represent their nations, so far lady luck has shined on him.

A third international spell of the season has instead been cruel on Saturday’s opponents, Liverpool, who are already sweating on three key first team players ahead of Arsenal’s visit.

Sadio Mane is a doubt after limping off for Senegal, Roberto Firmino had already sustained a hamstring injury and Jordan Henderson pulled out of the England squad for the final World Cup qualifier against San Marino.

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Arsenal set for another big selection boost vs Liverpool as Andy Robertson limps off for Scotland against Denmark with suspected hamstring injury

The Three Lions got on alright without him, but they aren’t the only ones missing.

It’s now got even worse for Jurgen Klopp who is now sweating on Andy Robertson’s fitness after the left-back limped off at the end Scotland’s impressive and crucial 2-0 victory over Denmark on Monday.

There is yet to be a fitness update from either The Tartan Army or Liverpool, but he nonetheless hobbled off in worrying fashion with what is a suspected hamstring strain. The captain fell to the floor to signal the need to be withdrawn and now faces a race to be fit in time for Saturday.

Are the stars aligning for Arsenal? Whether or not the focus should be on their own performance and extending their unbeaten run to 11 matches, when you’re preparing for the toughest away fixture in Europe any additional help will always be welcome.

Of all the possible absentees for Liverpool though, is Robertson a big miss?

Interestingly there have been calls of late for him to be dropped from the lineup, with his form dipping around the same time as 2020 summer signing Kostas Tsimikas has continued to impress with every outing handed to him.

More strong performances with Greece along with the rare club outings have seen this become debated, casting parallels to Robertson’s international teammate, Kieran Tierney, and Nuno Tavares.

Tsimikas looks like being another clever pick up from Liverpool who have been making a knack of this, and in Robertson’s stead there will be no major concerns on Merseyside over his deputy. So, a big boost for Arsenal from the outside looking in, but internally there might not be too many disheartened Reds.