Arsenal problems escalate as four key players could miss Liverpool showdown

Arsenal suffered a shock loss to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday. And the defeat came with a price ahead of their clash with Liverpool.

Goals from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert after the break gave the Cherries a 2-0 win. The Gunners' cause was hampered by a first-half red card for William Saliba as he was deemed to have denied a goalscoring opportunity after a VAR review.

The dismissal means the France international will miss the match at the Emirates Stadium for a huge game between two Premier League heavyweights. It's not the only problem Mikel Arteta has ahead of the game either.

Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber also missed the match at the Vitality Stadium due to injury, while Martin Odegaard has been missing since the previous international break. Arteta hinted he could be available for the trip to Anfield before the Bournemouth game though.

Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Oleksandr Zinchenko were all considered doubts for the clash with the Cherries but were all fit enough to make the squad for Saturday's loss.

More will be known about the fitness of a number of players on Tuesday when Arsenal host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. They then host Liverpool at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 27.