Arsenal kick-off their third league match of the season on Monday night against Liverpool, at the Emirates Stadium. It’ll be their first match of the campaign against a team who finished in the top 6 last year.
Expect no changes in the chosen Arsenal squad of 18 – Arsène Wenger has said that the squad will not change from what was selected last week against Crystal Palace. It would be unusual for Brendan Rodgers to make a change given their results over the past couple of weeks, however, he may be forced to make a change in the midfield.
Arsenal have endured a mixed start to their league campaign, losing on the opening day to West Ham, but recovering the week after with a promising 2-1 win away at Selhurst Park. The win against Palace showed some good team play and link-up resembling Arsenal’s famous possession-holding and passing play, but ultimately the attack suffered from a lack of prolific finishing, perhaps early-season rust showing slightly. Arsène Wenger and the team will be determined to get the season up and running properly with a win on Monday night.
Liverpool have had a good start to their league season, however perhaps their performances haven’t been majorly up to the mark. Both their matches, against Stoke and Bournemouth, have been 1-0 wins where they’ve looked defensively solid. However, there have been signs of the midfield not gelling – a new formation along with new faces contributing to this – as well as adjusting to providing service to new boy Christian Benteke in a different style to normal, via the wings rather than through the centre.
A player who Liverpool will want to keep an eye out for is Alexis Sánchez. The Chilean has a great record when at the Emirates, and the last time Arsenal faced Liverpool, Sánchez grabbed a goal – and a beauty of a goal at that as well. He’ll trouble the flanks and offer a goalscoring threat, especially on the counter attack, something Arsenal have become very good at.
Flipping the coin, a player who Arsenal will want to watch is Christian Benteke. The Belgian is very physical and challenges his opposing defenders well with his size and power. This could pose a problem for the defence – Arsenal’s first choice back four, and even players like Santi Cazorla who drop deep at times, are known for not being the strongest physically in retrospect to their position. If the full-backs can block the service from the flanks, and the centre-backs can match Benteke in the physical department, they can stifle the influence from the former Villa man. However, that’s easier said than done.
The last time these two teams met, Arsenal thrashed Liverpool 4-1, with goals coming from Hector Bellerín, Mesut Özil, Alexis Sánchez and Olivier Giroud. Some great goals with great team play on the day, at a point where the squad, fully-fit, was hitting top form and Liverpool were on the decline.
It’s going to be a very tight match-up, with Arsenal looking to get a morale-boosting win over rivals Liverpool to get their season firmly back on track, against an in-form team who have tinkered and adjusted well after a frankly poor 2014/15 season. There will be goals from either side, so don’t expect Liverpool to be walked over so easily.
Team News
For Arsenal, it’s the usual – no changes in the treatment room. Jack Wilshere will be out with an ankle injury sustained in a training ground clash until mid-September – Danny Welbeck will also be out until that date with persistent knee injuries, injuries that look a lot worse than first thought. Tomas Rosicky is also out with a knee injury.
For the away side, Joe Allen will be out for another week with a hamstring problem, Daniel Sturridge is currently in the U.S. working on his persistent thigh injuries, and Jon Flanagan – who missed essentially all of last season through injury – is out until December nursing a knee injury. Liverpool’s captain Jordan Henderson looks doubtful for the trip to N5, and reports have surfaced that he has picked up a foot problem – it remains to be seen whether he’ll play or not.
Predicted XIs:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerín, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Cazorla, Coquelin; Ramsey, Özil, Alexis; Giroud.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez; Can, Milner; Firmino, Coutinho, Ibe; Benteke.
Prediction:
It’s going to be a very tight match, one which will be decided via the flanks. If Aaron Ramsey can replicate the role from the right he had last time Arsenal played Liverpool, and the full-backs can put in a strong performance, the Gunners can put a leash on Liverpool. However, I anticipate Liverpool to get something going, with a goal from new boy Roberto Firmino, but for Arsenal to notch a couple on the night, coming from Alexis Sánchez and Aaron Ramsey. Altogether, a 2-1 win to the Arsenal.
