Arsenal Injury Blow: Emery Confirms Key Star Could Miss Vital Liverpool Clash

Unai Emery has confirmed Hector Bellerin is an early doubt for Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool on Saturday after picking up an injury against Crystal Palace.

Bellerin started at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon as Arsenal went searching for their 12th consecutive victory in all competitions and the full-back missed a great chance to give the visitors the lead midway through the first half.

It turned out to be an important miss as Palace took the lead from the spot on the stroke of half time after Shkodran Mustafi gave away a penalty and while Arsenal made it 2-1 after the break, Luka Milivojevic converted a second penalty late on to end the Gunners’ winning run.

It seems Arsenal may have lost more than two points yesterday as Bellerin was forced off at half-time and Emery has confirmed the right-back picked up a muscle problem during the opening forty-five minutes.

The Arsenal boss is hoping the injury isn’t too serious but he admitted he doesn’t know if Bellerin will be available for selection to face Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Speaking after the 2-2 draw with Palace, Emery told Arsenal.com:

“Yes, he’s [Bellerin] injured. I hope it’s not a big injury, but he had muscular pains.

“I don’t know [whether he’s a doubt for the Liverpool game next Saturday].”

Bellerin will be further assessed by Arsenal’s medical at London Colney today but Emery will be praying for good news as he’s been a key part of the Spaniard’s starting eleven this season.

Stephan Lichtsteiner came on for Bellerin on Sunday and will be on stand-by to deputise if he’s ruled out against Liverpool but it would be a huge blow for Arsenal if the former Barcelona youngster was to miss out.

The north Londoners now sit fourth in the Premier League table – four points adrift of Liverpool – so they need a positive result against the league leaders this weekend to stay in touch at the top.