Arsenal are claimed to be in line to land Shkodran Mustafi next week, meaning he will not make the squad for the Liverpool match.
The Premier League season begins this weekend, with champions Leicester kicking off the campaign against newly promoted side Hull City in the early kick-off on Saturday, while we begin our term at home to rivals Liverpool on Sunday.
We will be without defensive duo Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker, who are ruled out for the next six weeks and five months respectively, while senior defender Laurent Koscielny is also not expected to start the match, having only returned to training yesterday.
The French international was given an extended break following a deep run in the European Championships this summer, as was Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, but Koscielny could well be rushed back into the playing squad, if Wenger believes it to be a necessary risk.
The Gunners are working on a deal to bring in a new centre-back however, but the move is not expected to be in place before the weekend.
Shkodran Mustafi was claimed to be in line for a move to the Emirates next week, and his agent Ali Bulut has now confirmed that terms have been agreed between player and club. The only obstacle remaining is for the Gunners and Valencia to agree on the fee.
‘Shkodran and Arsenal have reached an agreement, the clubs now only have to agree on the fee,’ Bulut said.
Koscielny should also be back for the following match, so if Mustafi does return, that could mean a return to the bench for both Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, who could have to start on Sunday.
Is Mustafi’s deal a big blow to Holding? Was he expecting to be fourth or fifth choice this term?