Liverpool has become the depth touchstone of Arsenal s lineup: When the away game against Liverpool, where does the confidence to win come from?

The last time Arsenal visited Anfield was the game that drew 2-2 with Liverpool in May this year - at that time, Mikel Arteta only had to look back at the bench to clearly feel the lack of depth of the team's lineup.

Among the nine players on the Arsenal bench at that time, Kieran Tierney, Rahim Sterling, Alexander Zinchenko, Norberto Murara Neto, Nathan Butler-Oyedegi and Jack Henry Francis had 6 players, and their cumulative playing time in the Premier League throughout the season was even less than 1,000 minutes. Now that five of these 6 people have left the team, Zinchenko is likely to say goodbye before the transfer window is closed; but last season, they have frequently appeared on Arsenal's roster - when the injury wave exposed the team's shortcomings of "insufficient reserve of reliable options", these players can only make up the numbers to fill the gap. Three months later, the situation is completely different.

In the past, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odgau and Kei Havertz were injured, and Gabriel Jesus, who had been absent for a long time, Arsenal fans may have long determined that the team "missed the chance to score points at Anfield"; but now, the complete innovation of the lineup has made such an injury combination no longer mean "disaster".

Arsenal's signing investment this summer is comprehensive. After Eberreki Azero joined for £67.5 million, the team has spent £267 million this summer - he is the seventh player signed by the Gunners in the window, after Martin Zubimendi, Kepa, Christian Nellgo, Noni Maduaike, Christian Moscla and Victor Zakerish have joined one after another.

Arteta's team has been strengthened in all positions, and in the new season against Liverpool, new players on the offensive end may become the key to the situation.

Although Arsenal may continue to suffer from the impact of Jesus' long-term injury while absent from Saka, Havertz and Odgao, the forward lineup still has enviable choices: in addition to new players Aze, Maduaike and Dzekelish, Gabriel Martineli, Leandro Trosad, Ethan Envanelli, and the budding Max Dowman are all in the team.

"We need such depth" At a press conference after the 5-0 victory over Leeds United, Arteta added, "It is unrealistic to maintain the level we expected in a long 10-month season. No other top teams in the league can do it (only one lineup), so why should we be the exception?"

Injuries unexpectedly became the "early test question" to test the depth of Arsenal's lineup, and new players are likely to play an important role in this test - Zhekelais is expected to be the starting striker at Anfield, while Aze and Maduaike will provide new support options for the offensive end.

These two new players not only add creativity, impact and ball-holding ability to promote the team, but their multi-faceted position is also their core value. Arteta has tried to let Maduaike play the left and right winger positions in the game; Aze doesn't need to say much, he can do it in the middle or the wing.

When playing at Crystal Palace, Azero played in multiple positions, but his best performance was mostly as a No. 10 player. Therefore, if Odgao cannot make the appearance, Azero will become an ideal replacement - the combination of Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice is enough to ensure the defensive stability of the midfield.

At that time, Maduaikeko will take over Saka's right winger position, and the relatively familiar configuration will be retained on the left. Martinelli failed to make the appearance against Leeds United, but he has always performed well against Liverpool - and the Reds have exposed obvious shortcomings in dealing with counterattacks this season.

Arsenal is obviously targetingly strengthening the "Counterattack Threat": Zhekelais, Maduaike and Aze are both good at impacting space in conversion attacks; Martinelli is also a master of this - Jurgen Klopp once described the Brazilian striker as "a century-level talent."

Martinelli has scored four goals in his last six games against Liverpool, including a header that blew the horn of Arsenal in the 2-2 draw in May this year. Not only was he elected the best in the game, he also completed the season's highest 41 off-ball runs, repeatedly trying to hit Liverpool's high defense. However, the one who gave him assists and helped him score was another "Liverpool nemesis" - Trosard.

In fact, Trosad is one of only three away players in Premier League history to complete a hat-trick at Anfield (the other two are Andre Alshaven and Peter Ndlovu) – in January 2022, he scored a hat-trick for Brighton in a 3-3 draw with Liverpool.

The Belgian striker was in a good form when he came on as a substitute against Leeds United, and he was eager to get a starting opportunity this time; and Aze also caused trouble for Liverpool at Anfield - in April 2024, he scored the winning goal for Crystal Palace, helping the team beat the Reds 1-0.

Arteta may also choose to let Aze as the left winger. If Odgao cannot play, Pin Vaneli will be in the midfield.

Last season, Envanelli mainly assisted the injured Saka in the right winger, but in the first half of the game against Leeds United, his arrangement to replace Odge in the bench hinted at the young player's future development direction. He performed steadily in that game, with all 26 passes successfully.

However, replicating such a performance at an "atmospheric" stadium like Anfield is undoubtedly a more difficult challenge for 18-year-old Envanéri, but the teenager does offer Arteta another reliable option.

In addition, Arteta may also summon Mikel Merino - the last time Arsenal played against Liverpool, he scored an equaliser and he might be able to withstand the physical strength of this game.

Of course, no matter who is in danger, Arsenal's injury situation is by no means an "ideal state". Saka, in particular, has his importance to the team in recent seasons self-evident - Arsenal's record data is enough to prove this: when the 23-year-old winger fails to start, the team's Premier League win rate will drop significantly, and the goal efficiency will drop even more significantly.

But Arsenal's signing operations this summer are precisely to deal with this situation - to reduce dependence on individual players. Maduaike provides Saka's position with a "proven high-level alternative"; now the team has tactical flexibility, whether in the front line, defense line or midfield.

Some people may think that among the 7 new players, only Zhekelais and Aze can clearly improve Arteta's starting lineup strength, but compared with last season, Arsenal's "linear depth quality" has made a qualitative leap.

This can be seen soon from the performance of the starting players in Anfield, not only from the list of players on the bench behind Arteta, but also clearly feel it.