Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira is hopeful that his old club can recover from their recent loss to Bournemouth and secure a win against Liverpool.
The Gunners faced a setback in their Premier League title ambitions when Bournemouth unexpectedly beat them 2-0 last weekend, with goals from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert.
Compounding their troubles, William Saliba received a red card for a foul on Evanilson, leaving Mikel Arteta without the suspended defender for the crucial match against league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates. Additionally, Arsenal will miss captain Martin Ødegaard due to an ankle injury, and Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also dealing with fitness issues.
In contrast, Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot, has mostly been injury-free this season, although they will be without Alisson, Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, and Federico Chiesa for this match.
“It’s true that Arsenal’s squad is quite depleted, perhaps too much to meet expectations against a Liverpool team in great form,” Vieira told mybettingsites.co.uk. “However, playing at home, where they rarely lose, and with their fans supporting them, if they can be effective in attack, I believe they can secure a vital win to turn their luck around.”
Vieira emphasized the need for Arsenal’s key players to step up, saying, “The team must work together to compensate for these major absences. This has always been the club’s strength; no individual is bigger than the club. Each starter needs to give their all to maximize their chances of success.”
He views Sunday’s match as a crucial turning point for Arsenal, noting, “Just weeks after a comeback against Manchester City, another loss would likely see Liverpool and City leading the league. This is a critical moment for Arsenal.”
Meanwhile, Vieira’s long-time rival, Gary Neville, expressed frustration over Arsenal’s injury “excuses” but still expects a win for Arteta’s team at the Emirates. “Every club deals with injuries and absences,” the former Manchester United defender said on The Overlap US. “While I acknowledge the losses of Saka, Ødegaard, and Saliba, I won’t accept any excuses leading up to Sunday.
“I expect Arsenal, who finished above Liverpool last season, to approach this match with the belief that they can win. They need to change their mindset from being second-best to that of a title-winning team. They must go out and claim the victory.”