Arsenal Vs Liverpool

Standings:
Man City   26
Liverpool  26
Chelsea   24
Arsenal   22

All three teams above us still have not been beaten this season. Our opponents this weekend, Liverpool, looked to have gone through a rough stretch 3-4 weeks ago when they struggled to score a lot as well. Their midfield has been their only inconsistent matter so far this season. Summer acquisitions Keita and Fabinho have not really settled in thus far, especially the former. The latter has seen starts since the turn of the international break, and that's also been the time Liverpool went on a good goalscoring run of form again.

We all know what our struggles have been this season, yet we're only 4 pts behind Liverpool at this stage, and could have been easily only two if not for 2 penalties that went against us to Palace last weekend. We surely need to start this game better as Liverpool always comes out hungry in big games. As Jay mentioned, they could easily blow us away in one half, and we might not have enough in us to come back from a big deficit. So we better start well!

Guendouzi is serving a match suspension, so he'll miss out on this one. But it needn't be a big miss because XHAKA merely needs to slot in back into midfield alongside the Terrier and hopefully Monreal is fit and fully recovered to start at LB. If not, there's still Kolasinac and Ainsley who have been training as well. Another question is whether Emery will start both Auba and Laca. The latter has been a bit quiet the passed week or two, it could be down to some fatigue. But he really needs to up it again if he is intent on retaining that position up front, otherwise Auba could easily replace him. Mkhitarayn and Ramsey have both been quite stale in the positions out wide so far this season, so I think Emery will stick with starting both.


Predictions?

5-0 to Liverpool imo

We‘ll surprise imo, can see us competing somewhat but still be caught out in defence.

2-2.

You say you struggle but Liverpool has been absolute turd this year and still we shut out attacks and get the result.

Our midfield is excellent, they might not be contributing to attack but they never did even last year most balls were played over the top because they were shite.

Its all about the first half in this game, If Liverpool score early they get a result (win/draw), if they don't Arsenal go on to win in the second half. I do feel we'll be conservative as usual and try to play safe.

Regardless, I do expect Arsenal to score atleast 2.

I go for a 2-2 draw.

'turd'


I have no hope going into the game other than that we are at home so at least we won't get thrashed.

Hopefully our midfield has a good game. Tracking Mane, Salah, Firmino is going to be the most difficult task they will have this season.

And all those chances we concede, liverpool will score them so we need to avoid those.

Lacazette needs to be clinical. Won't get many chances against this Liverpool team.

RealGunner wrote:'turd'

You attacking my digestive system bruh

But yes we've not been good and unlike what we expect it will be cagey encounter.

It'd be a hard game with all defenders/midfielders available. But if we have to play XHAKA at LB, Lichtsteiner at RB, and Ramsey in midfield then we have no chance. Imagine XHAKA vs Salah .

We've been slow starters all season while Liverpool typically start hard and fast in big matches. If I were Klopp, I'd try to blitz Arsenal in the opening 30 minutes since that's when they're the most vulnerable. Letting them grow into the game would be a mistake.

That's my fear. We've gotten away with slow starts and have managed to come back against weaker teams, but a stronger team won't allow us this luxury.

I would give Auba another chance up front
So far his performances against big teams have been disappointing

I won't start Auba at all. I don't think we play well when both Auba and Laca are starting. It's always when he comes off the bench he clicks better. Also the balance is way off with him on the left.

I'd stick with Lacazette and start Iwobi on the left.

Auba up front, (Laca Bench)

Ramsey-Torreira
Mkhi-Özil-Wele
-----Auba-----

never happening i know

37.9% of Arsenal’s possession losses come in the middle third, the highest proportion in the league. It suggests Arsenal play the ball around the back okay, but struggle when it comes to progressing it and moving into attacking areas.

This plays perfectly into Liverpool’s hands as they’re the team with the 4th highest proportion of recoveries coming in the middle third this season. Liverpool can sit in more of a mid-block and let Arsenal pass the ball between their defenders, then pounce whenever they look to move the ball into the midfield.
https://t.co/8fHwDz3cn1

we should ditch our usual patterns and play mobile and energetic team that suits frenetic match

Emery is a cautious manager so more chance of a 4-5-1 i think.

I do think it won't be a bad idea starting 4-3-3 with Ramsey-XHAKA-Torreira in midfield

I prefer cautious approach this game, cant fight fire with fire against this Liverpool team.

Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac; Torreira, XHAKA; Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette

Subs: Cech, Lichtsteiner, Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Welbeck

Well well

That's one attacking team.

I hope Kolasinac is actually fit and not forced to play today. Could be a chance to eatabilish himself this season.

LMAO

are all on the pitch

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Milner, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

gonna get overrun in midfield against their 4x100 relay runners midfield

RealGunner wrote:Well well

That's one attacking team.

An open game might not be the worst thing for us. Liverpool are not that lethal sometimes in front of goal, and if we can get in behind them and make their midfielders and defenders run backwards we can create our own decent opportunities.

Strap yourselves in lads.

Let's do this lads

We are all in this together

Shitting myself.

Giving away these chances feels inevitable but at least we are creating as well
Better than I expected so far

Some fantatsic performances tonight. Specially by Torreira, Mustafi, Holding and XHAKA.

Great goal by Lacazette

Point was fair in the end i think.

A good result and a good performance overall.

It was frustrating since Leno made a couple of errors, one of which cost us a goal, and we struggled to create one great chance. Part of that was because Liverpool's defending was strong, but I was disappointed in Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang and Lacazette. Mkhitaryan's end product was terrible all game, Aubameyang faded after a bright start and Lacazette's movement was poor until Welbeck came on.

I was impressed by our defending, though. The pressing, how we retreated back into shape, and the way we tackled successfully in midfield were all very impressive. Certainly the best we've seen under Emery this season. Strong games from Torreira, XHAKA, Holding and even Mustafi.

That gives me a bit of hope that we can compete against the better sides.

Well I guess it's still a bit too early to be expecting to beat the other big boys. We started way better this time around, and that definitely helped. I've liked Emery so far in the big games, we haven't been blown away like we have been under Wenger, so I have faith that it can only continue and grow in improvement as we move forward. If we can stay within 7 or 8 points within the top spot at the turn of the year, I'd be very pleased.

But to be honest now we should go on and go beat Spurs and United.

XHAKA can be good if he wants to be, if someone can just somehow lobotomise him so that he can cut out his brainfart moments, he could form a very good pivot with the Terrier.

Mustafi and Holding did well too today.