Arsenal team news ahead of liverpool game

Here's the latest Arsenal team news ahead of their Premier League match against Liverpool on Saturday:

Injuries:

• Hector Bellerin (knee) - out for the season
• Rob Holding (knee) - out for the season
• Shkodran Mustafi (thigh) - doubtful
• Sokratis Papastathopoulos (calf) - doubtful
• Mesut Ozil (back) - expected to start
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (illness) - expected to start
• Bernd Leno (back) - expected to start

Suspensions:

• None

Doubts:

• Sokratis Papastathopoulos (calf) - may not be fit enough to start
• Shkodran Mustafi (thigh) - may not be fit enough to start

Expected Starting Lineup:

• Bernd Leno (GK)
• Ainsley Maitland-Niles (RB)
• Calum Chambers (CB)
• David Luiz (CB)
• Kieran Tierney (LB)
• Granit Xhaka (DM)
• Lucas Torreira (DM)
• Mesut Ozil (AM)
• Nicolas Pepe (RW)
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST)
• Alexandre Lacazette (LW)

Manager's Thoughts:

• Mikel Arteta: "We're going to have to be at our best to get a result against Liverpool. They're a top team and we know how difficult it's going to be. But we're looking forward to the challenge and we're going to give it our all."

Key Battles:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vs. Virgil van Dijk: Aubameyang has been in excellent form this season and will be looking to cause problems for the Liverpool defense. Van Dijk is one of the best center-backs in the world and will be tasked with keeping the Arsenal striker quiet.
• Mesut Ozil vs. Jordan Henderson: Ozil is a creative force for Arsenal and will be looking to dictate the pace of the game. Henderson is a skilled midfielder who will be tasked with shutting down Ozil's influence.
• Nicolas Pepe vs. Trent Alexander-Arnold: Pepe has been a bright spark for Arsenal this season and will be looking to cause problems for the Liverpool right-back. Alexander-Arnold is one of the best full-backs in the world and will be looking to use his pace and skill to get up and down the flank.