Liverpool vs. Arsenal – Preview

Once again we are playing Liverpool early in the season in a match that may well show how strong our team really is.

When Liverpool came to the Emirates around this time last season, the transfer window was still open, and players came and went in that time. We fielded an unbelievably weak team, and were punished so. Sure it was an unlucky outing in that one of their goals was scored by us and the other was scored by a player who was offside, but nontheless, I think it was quite clear that it was a game that we weren’t going to win.

Fast forward 12 months, and in most ways we are in a much stronger position. The first two games of the season for Arsenal haven’t been ideal, but our new strikers have had to try to settle in against teams who sit deep and try to block rather than defend. I think tonight (well tonight for me at least) we have a good chance for things to work out much better for us. And work out we need them to. The signs are there for there to be a media frenzy, and I think if we lose this one then Arsenal will end up as the media’s punching bag for another season.

Liverpool haven’t been great so far this season. I have watched their game against West Brom, and they were made fools in that one, and although I haven’t seen the City game, it seems from what I have seen and read (please feel free to correct me on this one) that they weren’t convincing (only that City were less convincing) and I think that this would be a good opportunity to really kick them while they are down and put in a good showing to give our season a real kickstart and move ourselves right up the table.

In terms of team news, Koscielny is available, however, Flaps, Sagna, Wilshere, Rosicky and Frimpong are all out, and it is looking unlikely that Wojo will make it onto the field either. I guess that mostly, that can only be an improvement on last week’s team, but at the same time, we could really do with Wojo and Sagna back to really improve our team from the back, but baby steps I guess.

I was reading a post written by a Liverpool fan, and those poor guys are plagued with injuries as well. Lucas and Cole are both out, and are both poor players, so looks like we will be playing essentially a full strength Liverpool side.

I have to keep this one fairly brief though sorry guys, but I will have a quick crack at a team sheet:

Mannone

Jenkinson Mertesacker Vermaelen Gibbs

Arteta

Diaby Cazorla

AOC Giroud Podolski

Bench: Martinez, Koscielny, Santos, Ramsey, Gervinho, Walcott, Arshavin

I’ve included a poll as I am keen to see what the general consensus is for the team for tonight’s match.

What will be the result?

So I wish luck to the team, and I hope we can pull out a win. I’ll be watching this one delayed by about a day as I’m going away tonight, but I’m pretty sure that Perry has a Liveblog planned and he has gone to a lot of effort to get them all set up. So thanks to Perry for doing that. I’m not sure which of us will do the review, but I’m sure we will be able to get something up.

Until next time.

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Category: Arsenal News