Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash against Liverpool
The Gunners are yet to score against the Merseyside club in the 2021/22 season, having lost 4-0 in the reverse fixture
Liverpool are looking to close the gap on Manchester City, while Arsenal will tighten their grip on a top four spot with a win

An in-form Arsenal welcomes Liverpool to the Emirates on Wednesday, March 16 in what promises to be an entertaining Premier League encounter.

Both sides will be going for the win for completely different reasons, with Liverpool looking to close the gap on at the top while Arsenal want to tighten their grip in fourth place.

A few months ago, one would have been forgiven to believe Liverpool would cruise in such a fixture.

But Arsenal have transformed themselves in recent months under Mikel Arteta, and they are currently on a five-game winning streak that has helped them overcome the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and West Ham to establish their place in fourth on the log.

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Liverpool are also on a purple patch, having won their last eight league matches, and the gap to Manchester City can be reduced to a single point should they manage to beat the Gunners.

Team News, Arsenal

Young talent Emile Smith Rowe recently recovered from illness in time to make a cameo appearance in the 2-0 win over Leicester, and Arteta is likely to use his creativity to try to hurt Liverpool on Wednesday.

Luckily for Arsenal, there are no fresh injury concerns and Arteta is highly likely to stick to the same XI that saw off the Foxes.

With Smith Rowe fully fit, he is likely to replace Gabriel Martinelli on the left, although there is a chance Arteta might opt to play safe with his midfielder’s fitness.

Here is what Arteta said in the build-up to the game:

“We are facing arguably the best team in England and have to be at our best to beat them. You face a team that dominates every single aspect of the game. So when that happens, you have to be at your very best.“

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Arsenal’s possible XI to start against Liverpool:

Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Lacazette

Team news, Liverpool

For Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp was handed a scare after Mo Salah left the Amex with a foot problem during their 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

But the injury is not too serious, and the Egyptian, who is Liverpool’s top scorer this season, could feature against the Gunners.

The Reds will however be without Kostas Tsimikas and James Milner, who are both ill, but the squad otherwise looks nice and healthy, with Ibrahima Konate having recovered from a knock.

Thiago Alcantara was on the bench for the Brighton clash, meaning he is fully fit and could be handed a start on Wednesday.

January signing Luis Diaz has been a revelation since joining the Reds, and after his goal against Brighton, Jurgen Klopp is highly unlikely to leave him out.

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