Arsenal were believed to be sweating over the availability of key duo Thomas Partey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of the clash with Liverpool, but both are now expected to be ready for the clash.
The Gunners will still be without Granit Xhaka, who has been sidelined since having to be substituted during our 3-1 win over Spurs back in September, but the club has managed to impress in his absence.
We would have been worried to be going to Anfield without both Aubameyang and Partey however, with both having played a key role in our rise up to fifth in the division of late.
Our captain returned early from international duty, missing their final World Cup qualifying group game, although the group had already been decided with his side missing out on passage through to the final round of qualifying. Charles Watts insists that he is fine for the weekend however, and his early return was agreed between the parties.
Aubameyang is back training today at London Colney as normal. His early return from international duty was pre-planned with Gabon. No injury or anything like that. He's fine for Saturday.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) November 17, 2021
Partey miss the international break entirely however, also missing our most recent fixture with Watford the week before, but LondonWorld states that the Arsenal medical team are confident he will now be ready to take on the Reds.
This is great news going into the weekend, while our rivals have a number of their own issues to deal with at present.
Patrick
COYG! We can do it🔥
Partey would be a great boost if fit. AMN and Lakonga did great against Watford but Partey and Lakonga are our No1 central pairing. 442 suits Partey better, he and Lakonga can win the midfield battle.
You could be right Reggie, hopefully this could be the game that helps me appreciate Partey as much as he is appreciated by other fans on JA
I think our midfield will need a boost in January. We have only scored 13 goals this season and to really start performing we need a midfield ‘controller’ maestro type. We do have a strong first team though, so as long as we don’t play 3 at the back and invite pressure, we have a chance against Liverpool. If we clam up though we will get beaten. ‘Fortune favours the brave’, so let’s go for it lads, and Arteta too.
We need Partey yes but Auba has regressed so missing him won’t be that bad. We can play Martenelli in his place.
He prevented us from scoring 3 against Watford
1. Ensuring that Saka’s goal was offside
2. Missing a penalty
3. Creating an offside situation when the shot from Odegaad was getting into the net anyway
They should take penalty responsibility from him to Laca.
Auba is leading us into Ozil situation
Auba is still our top scorer this season – sorry to point that out!
Whilst that’s true Sue apart from West Brom in the Carabao Cup back in August when he scored a hat trick he hasn’t scored away, pretty anonymous at both Burnley and Brighton and even in a really good team performance at Leicester I think he struggled to make his own personal mark on the game
I think Havyn was talking specifically about the game at Anfield this weekend and I agree he should probably sit that one out but bring him back for the Newcastle home game by all means
I would obviously be delighted if he played against Liverpool and rammed those words down my throat but I just think even if he doesn’t score Martinelli would keep Liverpool’s defenders and keepers honest
No he is not
Pretty much agree with your Auba comments Havyn but to be pedantic on the first offside goal Saka sort of did what Auba did on the second
Yes, it was a poor first touch from Auba but if Saka had got out the way Auba might still have finished it, the same as Ode’s shot might have hit the post and gone in on the second
Not blaming anybody, just saying
Me I seriously don’t see what’s special about this Auba of a guy.. and to think he is blocking the paths of our younger forwards is even more absurd, but fingers cross anyways I hope he plays well tomorrow, cos whether we all like it or not his the manager’s choice and we have very little infuence on that.
Secondly am more excited Partey is available, seems he knows how to play Liverpool, he has been bossing them since at ATM, I expect more of the same on Saturday…
Lastly I would love to see a midfield three of Partey Sambi and Niles all start… My thoughts though