Mikel Arteta has one crystal clear option who could dominate the LW against Liverpool

Can Arsenal claim another statement victory in their quest to become Premier League champions? The Gunners battled to a 3-2 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday night, thanks to Declan Rice's double in Dorset.

After Manchester City could only draw 1-1 with Chelsea the following day, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser, Mikel Arteta's team now find themselves six points clear at the top. Thus, as they aim to win six successive Premier League matches for the first time since May 2024, the reigning champions Liverpool will visit North London on Thursday night.

Compared to the team from the weekend, Bukayo Saka will be back in, while it remains to be seen whether Viktor Gyökeres or Gabriel Jesus will lead the line. The other spot most up for grabs is on the left-hand side of attack, with Arteta choosing between four viable options. So, let's assess these four candidates and predict who will get the nod.

Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke arrived at Arsenal from Chelsea for £52 million in the summer and, while he has shown glimpses of brilliance, he has been a largely peripheral figure.

The England international's best performance in red and white came in early December. Starting against Club Brugge in the Champions League, Madueke scored twice at Jan Breydelstadion, the first a jaw-dropping long-range screamer, before nodding home at the back-post from close range.

Since Bukayo Saka's return from injury, Madueke has started just two Premier League matches, one of which was at the weekend. In the early stages, he appeared to have the beating of Adrien Truffert, his dribble key to Gabriel's equaliser, but faded thereafter and was replaced by Saka.

The 23-year-old has occasionally been used on the left-flank by Arteta, albeit only once since August, this off the bench upon his return to Stamford Bridge, suggesting he is the least-likely of the quartet to start on Thursday.

Eberechi Eze

In the summer, most Arsenal fans agreed that a new left-winger was a priority target in the transfer market. Well, when Eberechi Eze arrived, his move to Tottenham having been hijacked at the 11th hour, the Englishman appeared set to be that man, but that's not how things have transpired to date.

The undisputed highlight of Eze's Arsenal career thus far was, of course, his hat-trick in the North London derby, bagging three against the team he turned down. This came during a run of matches when Martin Ødegaard was sidelined due to a medial collateral ligament injury in his left knee. Since the captain's return against Bayern Munich, though, the recruit has rather been sidelined.

Eze started at Villa Park, but after a lapse in concentration allowed Matty Cash to open the scoring, he was hooked at halftime. He was also in the lineup ahead of the win over Wolves a week later, but has been an unused substitute in four successive Premier League matches subsequently.

Eze is likely to start at Fratton Park in the FA Cup on Sunday but, for big matches, appears not to be in contention as a winger, suggesting he is not a realistic starter on Thursday.

Gabriel Martinelli

So now, we've narrowed it down to the final two, and many may be called for Gabriel Martinelli to get the nod.

The Brazilian has six goals to his name this season, including the last-gasp equaliser to salvage a draw against Manchester City. How crucial could that prove to be in May? Meantime, the others have all come in the Champions League, becoming the first player in Arsenal history to score in five successive appearances in Europe's premier club competition.

Arteta also likes to start Martinelli in big games; he's been included in the lineup at Old Trafford, Anfield and Stamford Bridge already this season. On top of this, the winger has previously scored six times against Liverpool, making them his joint favourite opponent, alongside Crystal Palace. So, could he add to his tally against the Reds, either from the start or off the bench?

Leandro Trossard (one clear winner)

While Martinelli could well be the winger who starts, Arteta is likely to go for his man in form.

Leandro Trossard was named Arsenal fans' player of the month for December earlier this week, earning 40% of the vote. The Belgian netted home and away against Aston Villa last month, lashing home the third during last Tuesday's statement 4-1 win. This has taken his tally to seven goals and six assists for the campaign; no Arsenal player has produced a greater output since his arrival.

While Martinelli has an impressive previous record against Liverpool, Trossard does too. The Belgian has scored more goals, six, against the Reds than any other opponent. One of these came during the Gunners' 3-1 victory over Liverpool two years ago, also bagging a perfect hat-trick for Brighton at Anfield back in 2022. So, having been rested at Dean Court, Trossard is surely the obvious starter on Thursday, while Martinelli, Eze and Madueke are not bad players to have in reserve.