It has often been said of Arsenal in recent years, or more specifically about our manager Arsene Wenger, that the tactics were a bit predictable, even if the football was full of flair and excitement. The Frenchman was stubborn they said and had no plan B, but the Gunners have proved that to be wrong over the last year or so.
Now we know that Wenger can adapt to different circumstances and we were probably expecting him to send the players out with a more defensive and solid shape when Arsenal travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool next week, but if the boss was planning to do that he might well know be thinking again because of the injury crisis affecting Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool were already struggling with a long injury list before last night’s Capital One Cup game and then lost two more first team stars as Coutinho and Lovren picked up hamstring problems. Kolo Toure was also limping at the end but it looks like he will be able to face us.
The former Gunner will be the only recognised centre back available to Klopp though, with Skrtel, Sakho and Lovren out, and to me that means that we must take the game to them and put that defence under serious pressure from the start. The fact that they are also without two first choice and fastest strikers in Sturridge and Origi as well as their best creative player Coutinho lessens the danger of them hitting us on the counter as well.
So should Arsenal take advantage of their injury crisis and treat this game like a home tie against a weaker side and go for all out attack?