Gary Neville Warns Arsenal: Don’t Use Saliba's Absence as an Excuse Against Liverpool
The former Man Utd star says the Gunners need to step up without their defender.
As Arsenal prepares for their big match against Liverpool next Sunday, Manchester United Legend Gary Neville has sent a strong message to the Gunners. After William Saliba received a red card that will keep him out of the match, Neville insists Arsenal should not use his absence as an excuse if they lose.
Saliba’s red card cost Arsenal valuable points in their match against Bournemouth, and now they are in a tough situation. If they lose to Liverpool, they could fall seven points behind the Liverpool who’s currently topping the league and also risk a six-point gap to Manchester City, who plays Southampton before Arsenal’s game.
While Arsenal is missing key players like Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber due to injury, Neville pointed out that Liverpool has faced similar situations. Liverpool won against Chelsea even without their world class goalkeeper Alisson Becker and key players like Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister.
Neville said this on his podcast, saying, “I understand that Saka and Ødegaard were missing against Bournemouth, but they were playing Bournemouth, a good team. You have to be ready for injuries at this level.”
He stated that Liverpool has shown they can win even when key players are out. “Liverpool played against Chelsea without Alisson and some other key players. Those players would start if they were fit,” he noted.
Neville hammered that although Saliba is a key player for Arsenal, the team should have enough strength to handle his absence. “Arsenal without Saliba against Liverpool is something they should be prepared for. They’ve added players to their squad to deal with situations like this,” he explained.
He stated that one player’s absence shouldn’t lead to a big drop in team performance. “You can’t let one player’s ban affect the whole team. They need to stay consistent even with injuries,” he added.
Neville used Manchester City as an example, saying, “We’ve seen City win without Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne. I know they’re an amazing team, but I believe in Arsenal and how they’ve improved.”
“Next week, we can’t talk about who isn’t playing,” Neville said in conclusion. This team has been heavily invested in. It’s time to demonstrate it. Their chances are still good. The season is only getting started. Without Saliba, this game is an important one for Arsenal and a major test for Liverpool.
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