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Ethan Nwaneri and Calafiori start amid Jurrien Timber decision – Arsenal line-ups vs Liverpool
Football | May 10, 2025 5:39 PM CST

This would have been the last game that Arsenal and Mikel Arteta might have wanted following their defeat to PSG in the Champions League. A trip to the champions Liverpool is not the ideal scenario for a side who still have work to do in these final three games.

While being champions already might make some think that the Reds might not be as motivated, the chance to add further misery to the Gunners’ season and joy to the Anfield crowd is hardly something they’d want to

With that in mind, football.london's writers have given their views on who should start for the club in what remains an odd fixture to both preview and potentially endure.

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Tom Canton

This was a difficult one to think about and while there is a contextual motivation in terms of a top five finish and securing that second-place spot for a third season running is not exactly the glorious end we hoped for. There isn't a need to rotate in terms of fitness or more important games now, but I have made some changes.

Both full-backs for me are changed for different reasons. Timber has played brilliantly and a player who has suffered an ACL injury has played an awful lot and so I am inclined to give him an early rest between now and the end while also allowing Ben White to get more valuable minutes.

Riccardo Calafiori comes in for Myles Lewis-Skelly who had a difficult match in the French capital. The Italian impressed and set up that chance for Bukayo Saka which was sadly missed and could have changed the game.

Other changes include Ethan Nwaneri in for Martin Odegaard who for me I feel needs to be taken out the spotlight, whereas his replacement needs plenty more of it. Leandro Trossard also comes in for Martinelli after the contrasting displays they each had against PSG.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Liverpool: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Nwaneri; Saka, Merino, Trossard.

Joe Doyle

It's an interesting position Arsenal find themselves in this week. On the surface, there's not much left to play for this season. But in reality, they are still only four points above 5th place in the league and have work still to do to seal a Champions League place for next season.

While that does come with the caveats of teams in the top six playing each other across the final three weeks of the season, the Gunners know they have to remain professional after their midweek disappointment in Paris.

And it doesn't get any easier with a trip to face Liverpool at Anfield. The Reds were not at their best last time out against Chelsea; in fact they were quite soundly beaten. But you can bet they'll want to bounce back in front of their fans.

Arteta has to balance putting out a competitive team with giving a few players some much-needed rest. It could be a difficult balancing act.

David Raya starts in goal for me, and I think I'd start Ben White after Jurrien Timber has been forced to play for long stretches of the season. William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior continue at centre-back, and while I'd be tempted to start Riccardo Calafiori, I don't think throwing him straight back in is the wisest decision. Lewis-Skelly starts, but I'd be replacing him at half-time as he's also played a lot recently.

In midfield, Declan Rice starts alongside Thomas Partey but I'd bring in Ethan Nwaneri for Martin Odegaard. The Arsenal captain hasn't been at his best for a while and could do with a rest.

And in attack, I don't think I'd go with Mikel Merino in a battle alongside Virgil van Dijk. I'd actually start Gabriel Martinelli up top and look to really stretch the defence on the counter. Leandro Trossard starts on the left with Bukayo Saka on the right.

Doyle's Arsenal XI vs Liverpool: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Nwaneri; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.


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