Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal fans to create hostile atmosphere against Liverpool – Irvine Times

The Gunners bounced back from their surprise defeat against Bournemouth with a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

But their preparations for visiting Arne Slott’s side, who they trail by four points, were dealt a blow when Ricardo Calafiori added his name to an extensive list of players unlikely to be available for the crunch game.

The Italian defender was substituted in the second half after twisting his right knee – an injury which Arteta described as “not great news” after the win.

Captain Martin Odegaard and star winger Bukayo Saka watched Arsenal’s win against Shakhtar from the stands with ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.

William Saliba will serve a suspension against Liverpool following his red card at Bournemouth, while fellow defender Jurien Timber is questionable. Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out.

But speaking after his side’s narrow triumph on Tuesday night, Arteta said: “It’s always great and important to win in the Champions League.

“We start preparation (on Sunday) and the place should be rocking here against Liverpool to give us all the energy they can.”

In Saka’s absence, Gabriel Jesus was deployed on the right side for Arsenal. But the Brazilian missed a golden opportunity to double his side’s lead on the stroke of half-time. Remarkably, Jesus last scored for the Gunners in a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on 30 January.

One plus for Arteta is the form of Gabriel Martinelli. The 23-year-old winger ended a 19-game goalless streak against Leicester last month before scoring in Arsenal’s next league game against Southampton.

On Tuesday, his first-half shot hit the post before deflecting off the back of goalkeeper Dmytro Ryznik.

“He looked really sharp and also really fresh,” Arteta said of the Brazilian, who was introduced in the second half of Arsenal’s defeat at the Vialiti Stadium.

“He was fresher than anyone on the pitch because he didn’t start against Bournemouth and you could tell he was different to the rest and had a different kit.

“He had another level of threat and started the game really well. He had a great performance for us.”