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Arsenal will be without Gabriel Magalhaes for the north London derby following a devastating injury he sustained during the international break, handing Liverpool hope in the title race.
The Brazilian defender, who has started all 11 Premier League matches this season, could be sidelined until January due to a thigh issue. The 27 year old has been a constant presence in Mikel Arteta's side, with Arsenal currently leading the pack at the top of the league.
However, the Spanish manager will have to make a change for the upcoming clash against Thomas Frank's Tottenham as his team aims to recover from a draw with Sunderland. Arsenal currently holds an eight-point lead over their closest rivals, who are sitting in fifth place. Gunners legend Alan Smith thinks this week is the perfect chance for a 'reset'.
With such an important decision looming, Arteta might be feeling the pressure. However, he may find some relief in the fact that Andrea Berta's summer transfer dealings brought in new options like Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera.
Despite having a successful system in place, Arsenal's head coach will have to carefully consider his personnel choices...
Piero Hincapie
The Ecuadorian international, capable of playing in the centre or on the left side of the defence, seems like a straightforward choice. However, the 23 year old has only made two starts so far, with his time at the Emirates disrupted by a groin injury.
As a defender who prefers to play in the heart of the defence and is known for his proactive defensive style, Hincapie could offer the closest thing to a direct replacement.
Cristhian Mosquera
Young talent Mosquera has already proven his mettle against top-tier opposition, having been called up to play against Liverpool. Despite being right-footed, the 21 year old has been playing on the left side of a defensive partnership for Valencia.
Mosquera has also had the opportunity to play alongside Saliba this season. They were both in the starting line-up in September when Arsenal triumphed over Port Vale in the Carabao Cup.
After a victory over Nottingham Forest in September, Arteta praised Mosquera: "It's not easy to adapt to the league, to adapt to a new way of playing, but Mosquera is a great example.
"I think what he did against Liverpool, being thrown out there after three minutes at Anfield in your first exposure in the Premier League, is very difficult to do. I think he was superb today again."
Riccardo Calafiori
A more unexpected choice could be Italian star Riccardo Calafiori. The former Bologna player joined Arsenal in 2024 as another versatile option.
Calafiori has claimed the left full-back position this season and is often positioned high up the pitch in Arteta's system. Myles Lewis-Skelly could potentially fill that role if Calafiori was moved, but one can understand why Arsenal's boss might be hesitant to make too many changes at once.
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