According to a report by the Evening Standard on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a difficult selection decision to make ahead of his team's Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield, particularly regarding who will occupy the right-wing position.

Arsenal have suffered a major setback with Bukayo Saka unavailable due to a quad injury. The situation has become more complicated following Max Dowman's suspension, which will keep the youngster out of the next three matches after his dismissal in the Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood was upheld.

With both players unavailable, Noni Madueke is currently the only recognised right-wing option at Arteta's disposal. However, the England international is also facing a fitness test after experiencing an ankle problem that forced him to miss the encounter against Fleetwood.

During his latest media briefing, Arteta offered encouraging news about the availability of some members of his squad. Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis all returned to training on Friday and are expected to be in contention for the Liverpool fixture.

Madueke's condition, however, remains a concern. The Arsenal manager revealed that the winger would be assessed again after Saturday's training session before a final decision is made about his involvement at Anfield.

The former Chelsea player has been in impressive form since the previous international break, showing that he can make an impact from either side of the attack. His contributions against Everton and Leeds demonstrated his attacking ability, particularly his dangerous delivery that helped Arsenal during their meeting with Leeds.

If Madueke is unable to recover before Sunday's encounter, Arteta could turn to Tzolis as an alternative on the right wing. Although the Greek international usually prefers playing from the opposite side, his experience in the position could make him a useful option.

Tzolis has recently returned to full training after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained while representing Greece on October 1. Handing him a starting role against Liverpool might involve some risk because he is still working his way back to full fitness.

Nevertheless, the 24-year-old has previously played on the right wing on several occasions. He has occupied that position 26 times during his career and also found the net for Club Brugge against Atletico Madrid from that side in last season's Champions League campaign.

Another alternative Arteta could consider is Kai Havertz. The German forward has the versatility to operate from the right if necessary, while his movement would allow him to drift into central attacking positions whenever Arsenal move forward.

Havertz could also provide additional tactical flexibility by helping Arsenal maintain their defensive organisation without sacrificing their attacking threat.

With Saka injured and Dowman suspended, Arteta has limited choices as he prepares his team for one of their biggest Premier League tests. Madueke's recovery could therefore play a crucial role in determining Arsenal's starting lineup against Liverpool, although Tzolis and Havertz remain possible alternatives if the England international fails his fitness assessment.