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Confirmed Arsenal team to take on Liverpool with Laca returning to the XI

The teams are out ahead of tonight’s clash between Arsenal and Liverpool with around a hour left until kick-off.

The Gunners will be looking to maintain their positive run of results over the Reds of late. The Merseyside club come to the Emirates knowing they haven’t won here in five years, and with the knowledge that Arsenal have already beaten them twice this season. The visitors also only have two wins in their last 20 trips.

Both of our wins came when they were an in-form side, whereas their results in 2021 are on par with those battling relegation picking up just 13 points from 12 outings.

Form will count for nothing tonight however, and Arsenal will need to be fully concentrated on the job as hand as we know our opponents are better than they are showing.

Liverpool are still showing their true potential in Europe having earned their place in the last eight of the Champions League, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be making sure his side do not take anything for granted this evening.

One player Arsenal will need to keep an eye on is Bobby Firmino who is returning to the squad, knowing that his goalscoring record against us.

Just one player off our earlier team prediction found here.

Is this the XI that will see us continue our strong run of home results against Liverpool?

Patrick

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233 Comments

        1. I’ve been very preoccupied with work Sue. Barely find the time to come on here and keep up with the comments. I never miss any Arsenal game though, even the frustrating ones. I’m doing great Sue, I hope you’re well yourself? Never had a better time than now to beat the scousers. Will be really disappointed if we don’t.

          1. Glad to hear you’re well. I’m good, thank you… may be even better come 21.45 😉. To beat them (with the City juggernaut marching on) would be the perfect way to end the day!

    3. Don’t wanna be seeing Firminho’s oversized, extra white teeth. Especially if he scores lol

    1. Someone in midfield must stay behind and does the dirty works like Xhaka. I guess it’s gonna be Ceballos

      1. Partey should that…
        Ceballos is not good in tackling and actually decent in going forward..
        He could link up well with Odegaard and Pépé upfront

  3. No Xhaka and Luiz😣😣
    Saka and ESR didn’t pass their late fitness test I guess.
    Xhaka will e missed.
    I’m hoping Ceballos doesn’t have his brain farts.
    Let’s get the win boys, strong lineup still but very weak bench

    1. Yes.. Pépé, Ceballos and Aubameyang scaring me..
      Ceballos and Pépé can’t keep ball and Aubameyang is lack of desire nowadays…

  4. Our El Capitan must take higher risks by cutting inside more often today, because it’s been a long time since he did that

        1. Those 2 has different style of play..
          Aubameyang is best poacher and also best runner behind the defence but he can’t take defenders on him and beat his man in one on one situation..

        1. I would say Tierney is our best rated.

          He is consistent, a better defender and creator than Xhaka.

          Xhaka blows too hot and cold for me, never know what you will get from him; compare that to Tierney.

    1. jon fox from what I’ve seen so far we clearly miss Xhaka. You may not be a fan of him but he clearly brings more to the team than Ceballos

  8. Up for it come on gooners a must win. Hope Martinelli comes in at some point and grabs the winner

  11. Mané v Chambers… don’t bode well for chambers. Pepe, Partey and Aubamayang between the three of them can often be profligate when it comes to ball retention. Add Aubamayang’s lack of effort and application and we could well be under the cosh. This is a game where we have to use finesse sparingly and be prepared to fight physically. Liverpool will definitely try to knock the fight out of us and stifle us !

  12. Must say Great lineup but with a VERY WEAK DEFENCE!!!

    Chambers, Holding, Magalhaes are all time bombs….
    All are massively limited in their balling skills so “playing out from the back” stuff won’t be possible today.

    Hope am massively wrong

    But generally very good lineup for a change.

  19. Liverpool may as well be playing with 12 men.
    The amount of times Ceballos just gifts them the ball is astonishing.

  20. Any chance we can swap Pepe for Rafinia in the summer ? Worlds apart in terms of quality a third the price

    1. What the hell happened to ceballos?
      Yes he was very inconsistent but lately he’s been utter trash.

  28. A long way to go but not good at the moment. Aubameyang should be up top and not defending all the time

  33. Such poltroonery…
    I said it about 3weeks ago..
    We’ll play like utter cowards and lose like Cravens…
    But hey trust the process ..Cos unlike previous drubbings we wil concede just 2 goals against the mighty Liverpool..
    Progress!!!
    Arteta forever!

    1. Not a word I knew JJ until I looked it up but my word you are so right. It’s been frantic and erratic

    2. Liverpool rarely beat Arsenal at home. In the last decade, that happened only twice, in 2011 and 2016, and none was a drubbing. The worst was a 3-4 loss in 2016.

  36. Ceballos needs to be replaced ASAP. He has not made any good decision all day. What an appalling performance from him!

  38. Bring on Martinelli… we desperately need some energy … PEA seems more concerned with his hair

  41. Tiernay partey ostergaard only players who look like they are top 6 quality … rest could be anywhere from mid championship to mid premier league … with a manager who has no style of football … he’s given up on playing out now and we look like Brighton with a zero threat attack

  46. This is one of the worst 45 minutes from Arsenal. We are clearly missing Saka and ESR. Pepe is simply incapable of holding the ball, so Odegard is isolated.

    Willian and Martinelli need to be brought in by second half. Willian can hold the ball a little bit at least unlike Pepe who grossly lacks the technical ability.

    2. Well, Ceballos needs to come off so one sub remaining… I don’t really care who else comes on

  48. Awful half… we’re making Liverpool look like er… Liverpool 🤪
    Another first half wasted…

  49. To be fair it wasn’t as good as awful. Only plus for me is we can’t play as bad again but my question why the hell arteta set them up to play so deep

    1. This where Arteta concerns me. He is too cautious.

      He wants to play like he did last year during our FA cup run. Bus parking and hoping for the best.

      I am Not happy with that sort of cowardly football.

      1. But the problem I think is that the players are not able to execute that same deep setup properly this time. They might be confused due to playing a different style in recent weeks.

  50. Just switched at the 33rd minute mark.
    How poor and outclassed do we look. So so poor. Just back passes, sqaure passes and hoofing it with little pressure.

    What a joke performance from Arteta and his players.

  51. Arsenal were nervous, as shown by their long clearances and no playing from the back at all. It’s understandable, because we’ve made too many mistakes in the back and Liverpool’s attackers are excellent in pressing

    But because of that safe tactic Liverpool defenders easily won the ball, since we don’t have any towering target man to win the long balls. No Tierney and Xhaka means our left wing would be dull in the second half

    Unfortunately our El Capitan isn’t gifted with close control skill, so the ball didn’t stick to him. If I were Arteta, I’d replace him with Willian after the 70th minute

    1. GOT

      Nice one! It is obvious the lads are determined not to make any errors thereby hoofing the ball away and I totally support that, can’t keep gifting goals away

      Imo, this game is a typical Martinelli game and I hope Arteta does not disappoint me again on this.

      Having said that, won’t it be an Arsenal thing to concede an early goal in the second half after managing to keep Liverpool at bay in the first half? I hope not!

  52. I love the attitude and intensity but when 2 players in the front three lack the ability to use/ hold the ball, it’s gonna be very difficult.

    There is no denying the fact that we are lacking balance and control I midfield as there is no you know who.
    Some of us have always reiterated that in as much as we can do better than Xhaka, he remains a vital cog in this team,the more you overly criticise him, the more you show you display your lack of understanding of the game.

    Saka alone would have made a world of difference on that RW. We just have to hope for a lucky break. Liverpool/ Klopp is super determined to beat Arteta/Arsenal.

  53. Watching the game with a Pool friend of mine, I really hope Arsenal turn up in the second half, so much confusing football…

  54. I know we have a great number of under performers tonight but surely this is the last time we will see Ceballos. I’m ok with Cedric on for Tierney as he’s a very good defender and not bad going forward but we definitely need Martinelli on and someone on for Ceballos.

    1. The more I watch Ceballos play the more I think to myself, “What a poor average player”.

      He is not good at anything apart from running around like a headless chicken.

      He needs to go back to Madrid.

  55. Xhaka is terrible Xhaka is terrible, he brings nothing to our midfield. He’s the reason we struggle…. LMFAO!!! There you have it.
    A big game with him out and see how the midfield is looking dead.
    I know this will change nothing in the eyes of those who will never appreciate him, but at leaty some of us who do appreciate and see his contributions values what be brings to this team

  56. Typical Arsenal, Saka, ESR and Tierney our three best players but also s.o injury prone. Everyone is calling for William and Elneny but this just shows how desperate things have become. Why was Chambers chosen at fullback? Dumb when he should’ve been put in as a defensive midfielder and the idea of playing Pepe, Auba and Laca together with a giant hole in the middle is like playing with nine men. I want to be positive, but can Arteta make something happen with the little he has?

  57. Well that was a poor watch! For the first 40 odd minutes, I thought we were back to our counterattacking gameplan. But what made me more nervous was that, unlike last season, we neither did soak pressure well or have an effective outlet. The press setup at the beginning slowly receded until we were basically playing in our own half for 25 mins odd. Partey impressed me with some positive attempts to move the ball out, but his header almost gifted Liverpool the equaliser(I would classify it as a mistake because of his positioning). Now what happened when we did try to go attacking? Our CAM predominantly occupied the right half space, with the ball spraying midfielder (supposedly) Ceballos flapping about, Partey occupied with his defensive duties, no one was there to pick the balls to the left. The result was primarily cooping up on the right or that one chance were Aubameyang was wrestled off the ball before he could lay it off for someone. Coming to Aubameyang, his workrate kinda dropped as the game went on but he did do his defensive parts. It was only on the offence where he was down a bit. I dont know why he doesnt run with speed anymore (age?). Also, as a poacher he has good positioning, but I guess was able to use that trait only twice this half. For Pepe, his forwarding runs from the deep were useless even though he was one of the more enthusiastic pressers from the front, along with Lacazette and Odegaard. Maybe this game called for fast, counterattacking wingers, and primarily midfielders who hold their own in physical duels? Maybe Mo will come on for Ceballos, something which I think should have been done from the start based on the nature of the opposition. I also yearn to see one of Nelson or Martinelli this game. Lets see whether the confusion lifts and we play our newly based playstyle, or go back to the till now unsuccessful counter setup. One thing is for sure though that Liverpool might punish us hard if we keep letting them go in easy like that.
    COYG!

  58. Expecting a different Arsenal to come out of the blocks second half. Fortunate not to be down but now need to take advantage. COYGs!

  59. GOT

    Nice one! It is obvious the lads are determined not to make any errors thereby hoofing the ball away and I totally support that, can’t keep gifting goals away

    Imo, this game is a typical Martinelli game and I hope Arteta does not disappoint me again on this.

    Having said that, won’t it be an Arsenal thing to concede an early goal in the second half after managing to keep Liverpool at bay in the first half? I hope not!

  61. I don’t think we are going to see any significant change in the second half.

    The midfield is dead. Ceballos has no business playing for Arsenal. Auba and Pepe doing fck all.

    1. It’s like a training session for liverpool but if it stays like this it will be arteta out but if we do get a result it will be a master class. Funny that

  62. Lolss.
    So many complains up there..
    Most of our players ain’t good enough to play for even Brighton FC..
    But some of u here always hype them or make excuses for dem..
    Particularly
    Pepe(A terrible footballer)
    Laca(Bang Average)
    Auba( Lazy, narcissistic player)
    Ceballos(Waste of space footballer)
    Etc…
    We can defeat Pool if Martinelli comes in n does Sth extra.
    Auba( A lazy, narcissistic player)
    Lava (Also Lazy)
    Ceballos(A shame of a midfielder)
    Xhaka(Average@best)
    And so on….

  63. Our passing is atrocious- – were giving the ball straight back to them when we get it. Looks like we’d be lucky to get away with a 0-0 which just isn’t good enough…

      2. So you think arsenal players just decided to sit back on there own. They are playing to the coach instruction.

  65. Totally scared team. Ceballos is so poor. Toothless team. Where is the bravery. There is none.

  67. Hmm, clearest oppurtunity at goal from Cedric… btw who is that Pablo Escobar in goal? Alysson? Lol…

  71. Can someone explain why Martinelli cannot be brought on right now?
    Is it forbidden by law?
    Thanks

  73. I have had to change my post as Liverpool had been in charge without finishing…… until they did.

  74. A manager with a winning mindset vs a journeyman who has no footballing philosophy … the arteta worshippers need to wake up or it will be this level of football for a decade

      2. I feel for Martinelli….he is better than the rest of the wimps. Arteta needs some courage….we brought on Elneny they brought on Jota. Where is Martinelli Mr Arteta?

    1. Too right, Siamois! We waited 2 weeks for this…. certainly wasn’t worth the wait.. absolute pants!

  86. And we are going to win the EL right!!!! Club in a shambolic state .. directionless … looking forward to the reflections of the patient long sighted mr fox and co on this one … most people with a basic understanding of the game saw this back in December which is why we wanted arteta gone

    1. No one can defend this shambolic performance and imo if you try I don’t think you are really a supporter of the club. No good points to talk about, pepe, aubameyang, party all zero out of 10 we look like a team who want the manager out

    2. @RW1- Mr Fox will be delighted. Every player put in 100% effort. That’s all that matters isn’t it?
      And what did Arteta say earlier? It’s time to take the handbrake off? This manager is an embarrassment to this football club. For all who see nothing but potential let me tell you now. We are going nowhere with Arteta in charge, and even Kronke will see this and act accordingly. Arteta will not be the manager of Arsenal next season.

  87. If there is goal drought for a player and a team, there is always Arsenal. What a pathetic team.

  90. Yep – turned off, it’s mental tortured. You can see it happening from the first minute, yet nothing is done to change it

  92. Are you struggling for form?
    Lacking in confidence?
    Devoid of attacking quality?
    Generally at a low ebb?
    Call Arsenal now, we’ll happily provide everything you need to turn that frown upside down!

  95. We didn’t even test the Liverpool CB pairing…Somrthibgs Fulham and Brighton were able to do…

    lol…This project is too big for Arteta..
    Put the poor man out of his misery..

  96. Man, this is so poor. OMG.

    Poor midfield, poor attacking, poor everything. Liverpool look more sharper, stronger, intelligent and energetic.

    We look as clueless and disjointed as ever.

    No progress after watching this rubbish.

  97. someone has got to explain to me how Arteta has improved us. People swear he has. Show me how?

    1. Another pathetic display. And I hope the players go forward with deleting their social medias because the clown posts they put before these lethargic displays make it that much worse.

  98. The sick thing is no xhaka Luiz were still disgusting cb right back right back left back pepe don’t get me started

  99. Finally! But too late now…
    Auba with the new hairstyle looks kinda Ronaldinho cica 2012, but he most certainly is not today!

  100. Well look on to the bright side, Xhaka and Luiz will be available on Thursday. Can’t stand this shît of a midfield.
    Onto Thursday boys 😌
    Maybe y’all gon start appreciating Luiz’s experience and Xhaka’s contributions more.
    Martinelli gets to warm up now

    1. We need better than Xhaka and Luis.
      They have been involved in so many games like this one.

      Calling for the best out of a bad bunch is not good enough.

      We need to find a betyer CM than Xhaka in the summer. Need another striker, Laca and Auba are not doing it too.

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