Arsenal Vs Liverpool
Saturday 20th August
12:45 BST Kick Off
Emirates Stadium


An Awkard Tie for the Gunners

Normally, The fans would be excited and hopefull ahead of their first Home Premier league Fixture But going into the game, the mood isnt what it should really be. There are few reasons for this; 1st of all, The depleted squad. It can be said that this is one of the weakest Arsenal squad since forever. Fabregas left, Nasri is going, Injuries, 2 suspensions etc. Secondly, the fact that we have to play 4 matches in 2 weeks and 3 of them being massive ones, The liverpool fixture, Udinese away and Man utd away. Rotation would have been excellent at this point but who the f is left in the squad to rotate with ? I rather play with 10 men then with squillaci in the side. Chamakh has lost it. Both of our left backs cant stay injury free to save their life. So basically its a tie where obviously home advantage can play a crucial part. But Liverpool goes in as the favourites and pressure is on them.

The New Liverpool

The way Daglish revived liverpool last season was astonishing. They really were one of the best team in the league since jan. This summer the task was to improve the liverpool side and set a target for this season which i think is to do well in the cups and more importantly get into that Good ol' Top 4. Contrary to their pre season form, they were quite good against sunderland in the 1st half, showing what they are capable of, however the 2nd half wasn't as impressive and a few questions were raised about their possession retaining ability and the Right back issue.

Team news

Arsenal

My My, where do i begin... The post-cesc Arsenal will be without both Gervinho and Song who got suspended at Newcastle, While Gibbs(hamstring), Djourou(hamstring), Traore ( groin), Wilshere ( ankle), Rosicky ( rested ) are all out.

Liverpool

Glen Johnson could return from the hamstring injury he picked up in pre-season. Gerrard is definately out. Agger has recovered from his dead leg ( its alive!!! ) and Suarez also shrugged off some minor knock.

Arsenal Team

Personally, i would Give Arshavin the Cesc role and play Either Oxlade or Miyaichi on the left with Theo on the right n RVP upfront. Frimpong and Ramsey behind Arshavin and Jenkinson as the LB. Squillaci Should stay AWAY FROM THE TEAM. I dont care if we play rvp as CB but he should not be starting. The big news from today is that Wenger said Nasri could be involved, that means bench imo.

My Prefered Team

-----------------------------Szczesny--------------------------------

Sagna--------------Vermaelen----------Koscielny--------------Jenkinson

-------------------Frimpong-------------Ramsey-----------------------

Theo-------------------------Arshavin------------------------Miyaichi/Oxlade

-----------------------------Van perfect--------------------------------

Subs: Fabianksi, oxlade/Miyaichi, Chamakh, Lansbury, Squillaci, Bendtner?, Nasri.


Liverpool Probable

----------------------------Reina--------------------------------

----Johnson--------Carra-------------Agger----------------Enrique

-------------------Lucas--------------Adam----------------------

Kuyt/henderson/Suarez------------Meireles/Suarez---------------Downing

--------------------------Carroll----------------------------------

So obviously, we need to stop downing smashing them crosses to Carroll and need to defend like we did against Newcastle. Suarez will be their danger man as usual. Adam from crosses will be lethal. If johnson doesnt play i reckon kelly will start as flanagan was quite average against sunderland.


Match Facts ( bbc )

Head-to-head

• It is 11-and-a-half years since Liverpool's last win at Arsenal, a 1-0 victory in February 2000. The Merseyside club have never won at the Emirates.
  
• Last season's corresponding fixture saw the latest goals scored in Premier League history. Arsenal took the lead with a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time, only for Liverpool to equalise with a spot-kick of their own four minutes later.
  
• Liverpool have won only three of their last 20 Premier League games against Arsenal, and none of the last eight.
  
• There have been more hat-tricks scored in this fixture than any other in Premier League history (five).

Arsenal

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their first home league game of a season since 2001, winning in each of the last four years.
  
• According to Opta, Arsenal won 64% of their league matches with Cesc Fabregas in the starting XI last season, but only 31% without him.
  
• Arsenal conceded a higher proportion of goals from set-pieces (53.5%) than any other team in the Premier League last season.
  
• Theo Walcott is poised to make his 200th club career appearance.

Liverpool

• Liverpool had the best head-to-head record between "Big Four" clubs last season, winning three of their six league meetings and picking up 11 points.
  
• They have averaged a point per game from their last 14 away matches.
  
• Liverpool have scored 36 goals in 19 league games under Kenny Dalglish, whereas when Roy Hodgson was in charge they mustered only 24 in 20.
  
• Andy Carroll is set to make his 100th career league appearance.
  
• Dirk Kuyt is looking for his 50th Premier League goal.

Final words

We need to win this match somehow. Hopefully the home ground factor plays a crucial part in our favour. We have man utd away as our next match in the league. It's a tough fixture but if we are to challenge for the title, we need to win these games.

I am only looking forward to this game to see how Frimpong plays otherwise there is little excitment for this one unless Miyachi or the ox start

RealGunner wrote:
Liverpool Probable

----------------------------Reina--------------------------------

----Johnson--------Carra-------------Agger----------------Enrique

-------------------Lucas--------------Adam----------------------

Kuyt/henderson------------Suarez-------------------------Downing

--------------------------Carroll----------------------------------

So obviously, we need to stop downing smashing them crosses to Carroll and need to defend like we did against Newcastle. Suarez will be their danger man as usual. Adam from crosses will be lethal. If johnson doesnt play i reckon kelly will start as flanagan was quite average against sunderland.

We would probably start with Meireles ahead of Kuyt as i cant see Kenny going 4-4-2 at Emirates even if the Arsenal team is weakened.More probable lineup might be 4-3-3 and 3 man midfield:


----------------------------Reina--------------------------------

----Kelly--------Carra-------------Agger----------------Enrique

-------------------Lucas--------------Adam----------------------

Suarez------------Meireles-------------------------Downing

--------------------------Carroll----------------------------------

Subs: Doni , Carra , Johnson , Spearing , Henderson , Kuyt , Maxi


Also i cant see us rushing in Johnson even if he is fit as Kelly has recovered from his minor knock.Johnson will more likely be on the bench.

You guys say you need to win games like these to challenge for the title, we say we need to win these games to get back in top 4.
^^

But this is a great chance for us, high hopes in the Liverpool camp.

who's thinking about the title

Screw the title; we're worried about 4th place as well.

When the fixture list came out I thought we'd go into this game in much better shape, with some new, quality players and whatnot. That's obviously not happened and with all the injuries and suspensions I'm a little worried about this game.

If we play close to our best on all front I think we may scrape a 1-0 win. I do fear that anything less would see Liverpool turn us over.

Looking forward to the game nonetheless.

This is how our line-up will be tommorrow:

-----------------------------Szczesny--------------------------------

Sagna--------------Vermaelen----------Koscielny--------------Jenkinson

-------------------Frimpong-------------Ramsey-----------------------

Theo-------------------------Van Persie------------------------Arshavin

-----------------------------Chamakh--------------------------------

Subs: Fabianksi, oxlade,Miyaichi, Lansbury, Squillaci, Bendtner, Nasri.


I would really love to see arshavin take cesc position but i know wenger wont do it.

GoonerJay29 wrote:Screw the title; we're worried about 4th place as well.

When the fixture list came out I thought we'd go into this game in much better shape, with some new, quality players and whatnot. That's obviously not happened and with all the injuries and suspensions I'm a little worried about this game.

If we play close to our best on all front I think we may scrape a 1-0 win. I do fear that anything less would see Liverpool turn us over.

Looking forward to the game nonetheless.

if Liverpool don't win this game then they are shittttt....this is the worse team since a back four of Eboue,Toure,Senderos, sebastian Larson

lool we go for the title every season it doesnt exactly end it that way but who cares

Good job RG, I like the line up, hope we get a good result.

maybe if we go for 4th place we might end up with the title.

------------------------------------Szczesny--------------------------------

Sagna--------------Vermaelen----------Koscielny--------------Jenkinson

-------------------Frimpong-------------Ramsey-----------------------

Theo-------------------------Arshavin---------------------------------RVP

-----------------------------Oxlade----------------------------------------

This is from Goal.com No sure why they have Oxlade in front there.

Excellent preview RG, now onto the match tomorrow. I'm hoping for a 1-0/2-0 win tomorrow although if Squillaci starts I'd say we have a very good chance of kissing that clean sheet goodbye.

I have a funny feeling Wenger will start Nasri tomorrow and I don't mind too much if he does as long as Nasri does his job well because we are very short on numbers in midfield. If he doesn't, I expect a debut for Ryo/Lansbury (can't remember if he has played before) with Arshavin/Ramsey/Frimpong midfield since Rozza is out.

So Arsenal to nick a 1-0 win tomorrow providing Squillaci is not seen on the pitch.

i wanna see Campbell upfront.

can Campbell be in the team?

i guess so. he's been training with us and Arsenal.com confirmed today that all the papers were finalised.

btw who would you guy rather see AoC or Ryo on the wings?

AOC for me.

Not gonna happen cause chamakh will start, mark my words :p

Joel doesnt have a work permit yet. Club will be applying for it this week. Think we will get it

Jamin wrote:AOC for me.

i think he must have bit more experience than Miyachi.. I cant understand all of a sudden we have lost 4 starters in a single match.. Wtf..

Wenger saying nasri available. Have to go with the strongest team against a very good liverpool, so i see nasri starting.