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Confirmed Arsenal team for Liverpool clash – Gabriel captain, Madueke starts for injured Saka

Noni Madueke (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Arsenal will take on Liverpool today in a game that has the potential to be season defining for both sides. The pair are likely to be the closest challengers for the Premier League title again  and following what happened last season, Arsenal will want to lay down an early marker in the title race. Both sides head into the encounter off the back of consecutive wins in the league.

Kick off: 4:30 PM (UK time)
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Competition: Premier League – Round 3
Referee: Chris Kavanagh

The Gunners will be looking to take the game to Liverpool and walk away with a win – something they haven’t done since 2012!

Here is Arsenal’s confirmed team to face Liverpool:

COYG!

Michelle M

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167 Comments

    2. I certainly didn’t have Merino in the starting line up, Surely the gaffer have a card up his sleeves for this one.

      2. Merino was always going to start but I thought Eze would have started instead of Martinelli
        I suppose a strong bench to come on and win it ?

    3. Yes Jax , saw that coming. Think rice plays the 10 role he will be further forward! Ultra defensive mode, will be interesting with mostly attackers on the bench

    4. So wait
      I was one of the few who said Merino will start .
      So that would put me in the minority correct ?
      An example to some readers that the majority can be wrong lol

  4. Merino is a huge call from Arteta over Eze, Nwaneri , a half fit Odegaard. He played only 8 min this season.

    1. We’d likely not be able to score from open-play at Anfield, so Merino’s aerial ability will be a good addition to increase our chance of scoring from set-pieces

    2. I believe Merino had a red card last season at Anfield
      He lost the ball under pressure and had a reckless challenge which got send in off
      So I truly doubt his ball carrying ability and his passing ability when it comes to high press from opponents
      I am sure Liverpool gonna press us relentlessly from 1st minute to 90th minutes so I am not sure how Merino is gonna do in that situation

    3. Two assists away at Real Madrid for us? Even his own supporters underestimate Merino 😆

  6. High time people (fans included) put some more respect on Merino’s name – he’s in because when we turned over Real Madrid he’s able to keep his wits about him most of all in big games, he’s an experienced spanish international and when it all boils down to it he can assist OR score us a goal. I am not surprised at all seeing he’s in the starting 11. Let’s not forget we’re an awesome squad now.

    1. I believe Merino had a red card last season at Anfield
      He lost the ball under pressure and had a reckless challenge which got send in off
      So I truly doubt his ball carrying ability and his passing ability when it comes to high press from opponents
      I am sure Liverpool gonna press us relentlessly from 1st minute to 90th minutes so I am not sure how Merino is gonna do in that situation

      1. Yes that was a brain fart moment. he will be higher today playing odegaard role so less likely to have to take the ball under pressure facing his goal. Also he is likely getting substituted in the 50-60 min.

        1. Hello has to get out in like 20 minutes if we want even get 1 points in this game

          Man Utd are clueless upfront that’s why we could keep them out for so long

          We can’t leave the ball completely to Liverpool & think they won’t score

  7. It looks like Arteta wants to Avoid defeat that’s 3 DMs in Midfield
    I think Eze will come on for sure

  8. I believe Merino had a red card last season at Anfield
    He lost the ball under pressure and had a reckless challenge which got send in off
    So I truly doubt his ball carrying ability and his passing ability when it comes to high press from opponents
    I am sure Liverpool gonna press us relentlessly from 1st minute to 90th minutes so I am not sure how Merino is gonna do in that situation

  9. We’ve lost the mind games already then!
    I was hoping he would be bold but he’s obviously not!

  10. Merino shouldn’t be playing CM or DM
    I think he should play little ahead on pitch or else up top with Gyökeres as 4-4-2 formation

  11. Arteta is going there to defend and hope once again that we score from set-piece.
    That’s what this lineup is pointing to.

    Once again choosing to play it safe rather than being bold enough to start Eze in midfield, to at least provide some creativity and runs in the middle.

    I don’t know if to expect anything better than the display at Oldtrafford.

  12. Not sure I like this starting line up, but history would be kind to the gaffer with a boring one nil victory

  14. Well, I guess Merino is playing because Arteta wants him to shield Calafiori when he bumps forward. So he doesn’t get cooked by Salah.

    1. That will be Rice’s job, because he’ll play on the left side with Calafiori and Martinelli

      Merino will play Odegaard’s role

  16. Once again Arteta reverts to type and pushes out a team that is going to play on the back foot…defend for their lives and try to hit Liverpool on the counter.
    That’s why he’s selected Martinelli once again.Not for his attacking abilities but for his defensive ones.
    It beggars belief that he’s chosen Merino in preference to Eze.A player who’s ineffective rash play got him sent off in the fixture last year.The knock to Odergaard gave Arteta the perfect opportunity to start Eze.Its not as if hes needing more time to get up to match fitness.Its this attitude which will continue to preclude Arsenal from reaching the levels that will enable them.to win trophies.

    1. First minutes are usually crucial and definitely not conceding early will bring confidence as the game goes. Don’t think it will boring as the United game. We are up for end to end stuff.

  17. There are no excuses for not winning this with the squad depth Arteta has. Loose this and it’s season over

    1. I don’t get these entitlement statements

      Even if this match is in Emirates we have no right to say: ‘Theres no excuse to not win against a team like Liverpool’

  18. We’ve lost every match Merino starts in the AM role – which includes the match we were outplayed & beaten by Bournemouth

    Guy will just be busy falling down and losing the ball

    And we will create absolutely Jack-Nothing with him in that role

    1. The game will start soon. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Let’s see how first half goes….

  19. The gaffer team selection, reminds me of the pending invasion of Iraq, where tens of thousands of soldiers camp on the Kuwaiti beach anticipating an amphibious landing that never took place, The gaffer just loves these mind games

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  21. It’s going to be an irritating watch today

    No one from the midfield will be opening-up to collect the ball from the more defensive players

    Liverpool Midfielders will be enjoying themselves easily

    I know Eze or Nwaneri will eventually come in but the damage might have already been too much before then

  22. 3 DMs and martinelli,how do we score? arteta must be mad regardless of the game’s outcome

  23. Martinelli on the left is not a creator
    Merino is not a creator

    Only Noni is a creator upfront

    We’re here for setpieces and counterattacks

  24. I am already feeling fear in my heart even before kick off
    I am just not convinced with Arteta and his tactics

  28. This is getting ridiculous the amount of injuries we are getting. Something must be wrong at the club with training

  29. What is wrong with our physical preparation, one key player a game? Something has to be analyzed to find our why.

  33. I wonder why our players keep making back passes. Are they scared of attacking or what.

    1. We don’t real forward passer of the ball in our team
      We are playing with 3 DMs
      What are you expecting from all DMs midfield

  34. Zubimendi needs to add sum bulk in the body
    Couple of he was outmuscled by Liverpool players easily

  35. Absolutely a winnable game, we need to pass the ball quicker and somebody please der the Gyo runs …..

  36. If Arsenal can keep pinning Liverpool down as they did in the first half, I think we’ll win the game

    1. Not sure because we are not creating anything
      And Liverpool is deadly with their attack
      They can score quick goals
      One magic moment from Salah and you are done

      1. We were more threatening in the first half

        I expect a magical moment from Madueke, Martinelli or Gyokeres

  37. We seem to be playing for a draw. Back pass even when a pass to Gyokeres is open 🙄

  38. Eze introduction will boost gyokeres having someone who can spot his runs and deliver great passes.

      1. I would bring on Eze for Nelli.

        We were rubbish on left against Leeds as well because Ricky is so far forward as the winger, it send Nelli inside. At least Eze for Nelli is nominal left side who will have better presence inside than Nelli is managing.

  40. My prediction of the way the game would go has been wrong

    The boys have done very well without an actual ball receiver in the midfield

    But Martinelli is just rubbish, almost nothing is done successfully

    Once we take an attack to him, it ends

    He needs to be told to play like a striker not a creator – he’s absolutely bad with the ball unless he’s running

    (once he receives the ball – he should look for someone to give immediately rather than making all our attack via him become futile)

    1. I like Martinelli so much but you are right, whenever the attack is switched towards his side, it’s as good as done. He has helped out defensively though, which is why Arteta likes him a lot

  41. I think this controlled tactics cannot win us trophies .At times you need to be more audacious to win titles. Liverpool is there for the taking..I do not know why Arteta keeps playing this tactics.

  42. I don’t really think it’s the players, judging from the way they play, I think they are playing exactly how Arteta want them to. Cautious

    1. The fact Mosky stripped off so quick before Saliba assessed makes me think he brought it into the game. It was suspiciously quick.

      1. Thought the same thing. Mosquera seemed ready to go the second he went down. if it’s previously known maybe it’s just an uncomfortable knock? We really dont need another player weeks out

  44. The boring half I have seen this season and it come from the top two contenders!

    Liverpool have most possession but nearly all of it is in their 18 yards box yet Raya nearly gifted them a goal!

    Will Eze be the difference?

  45. Can we tell the team, we have a striker now, can we find him? And the left side is poor again attacking wise. Why is Martinelli even playing? We have controlled the game, mostly but not really bothered a lopsided looking Liverpool. Probably missed a chance because they can not be as bad second half surely?

    2. Martinelli’s contribution on attack is abysmal, but his and Cala are the reason Salah has been kept quiet so far

  46. Ok first half. An uneventful 45 at Anfield is not a negative. We can do more though and have a lot of the midfield control. Madueke the only threatening attacker right now tho. Martinelli we need more or may as well bring Eze on. Avoid silly mistakes and create that one golden chance and we might walk out with 3 points

  48. No more playing out of from back
    Sometimes I don’t understand this obsession of playing out from back

  49. I don’t like these little short passes by Raya, am a nervous wreck with the ball at Raya feet

  51. Arteta will bring Eze Odegaard Nwaneri Dowman when we will be trailing and it will be too late to recover

  54. This match is becoming frustrating the more it drags on this way.
    Someone pleas tell Arteta to a substitution. Bring on Eze!

      1. The benefits of having a bigger squad. Ours is stronger than Liverpool n City in terms of depth.

  57. Eze first contribution and a scoring chance almost created.

    Imagine if he had started this game?

  58. Why all the Martineli hate, Gyokeres is facing the same problem. They run the channels all game long but no one ever makes forward passes. Rice especially, for all his quality out of possession is extremely negative in possession.

    1. A style of play like the one on display today (backward and sideways passes) is the reason why we may never win the league with Arteta in charge.

    2. David
      Is that down to the players, or the instructions given by Arteta? So much quality in our roster, but same risk avoidance in tactics.

      3 DM’S shows Artwta is scared to play open and direct, IMHO. This risk adverse approach won’t will the league or titles.

      Even pep lost today, as if possession is worth any points.

  62. I called it before it went in Raya absolutely to blame awful goalkeeping. But we have what we deserve so far NOTHING

    1. That’s why Liverpool were Champs last year, find ways to win.

      Arteta plays not to lose; perfect example of the difference between first and second place. Playing safe instead of going for it, just like Arteta the player; safe, backwards, the illusion of control.

      Should have started Eze, not cowardly 3 DM’s.

      1. Spot on Durand. Pretty sick of it. I can’t stand by Arteta anymore if he walks away from this season trophy less. Long ways to go and we can obviously recover the lost points. But I just hate that Mikel is a manager that is not evolving. I think to a degree these players have outgrown this ridiculous mentality of playing not to lose, and trying their best to not entertain. Too much excitement produces unpredictable moments and we cant have that!

        1. There are many reasons or good “excuses” for not winning a major trophy in the PL or Europe but one of them would not be that starting lineup, the setup of the team, or the timing or selection of substitutions made by MA today. The way I judge his impact on the team is how I will ultimately make my decision on whether he should stay or go after this season, even if he does win a major trophy.

  64. Ordegard seems to drain the energy in the team, holding unto the ball unnecessarily and then passing the ball when a player is marked. It’s embarrassing that that is our captain.

  65. The captain seems to drain the energy in the team, holding unto the ball unnecessarily and then passing the ball when a player is marked. It’s embarrassing that that is our captain.

    2. That’s bullshit! Odegaard did nothing wrong today, Arteta lost us the match. He is too afraid to play

  66. I honestly don’t think we’ve been brave enough up until the goal. Only now are we forcing a serious attack with conviction. Liverpool have been pushing this second half and deserve the lead.

    1. Exactly, as always with Mikel’s team. Tap the ball around and play in slow motion. Reactive instead of proactive. 0-0 seemed totally fine with Mikel and seemed like that was his priority over actually trying to put in a side that can score. A more attacking approach would’ve been braver, but to his core he is a defensive coach. Another game of Gyokeres getting basically zero service

    2. Arteta needs to go, we have the attacking power to bury Liverpool in this match and yet we play like Stoke. Goyekeres and Martineli are been wasted with the way we played.

  67. We obviously didn’t watch how Newcastle scared Liverpool the other night. Very tame and negative!!!!!

    1. Arteta will cost us big time. Not a time for change but a change of attitude. We had nothing up top NOTHING but we have to go out to win rather than go out not to lose. Great free kick but for me Raya to blame

      1. I am not sure blame, he is short for a goalkeeper, so reach will be less. BUT you shouldn’t get beat from 32 yards.

  69. Still got a manager for afraid of losing than trying to win. As long as that mentality remains we won’t be winning the title. Nothing special from Liverpool today and lots of “control” from Arsenal

  70. All that money spent and no improvements… micro managed and that eas such a bad performance ina big game.

    Mikel can’t win it with Arsenal. He doesn’t convince me at all, the process is faulted and so is the manager

    1. Arteta favors micromanaging players, following his script. Shows little trust in the players and their individual talent and creativity.

      Imagine having Alexis Sanchez in his prime, then handcuffing him in a straight jacket with static positioning and back passing.

      Gyokeres starved of service; why spend the money if you won’t use him properly?

  71. Sad to say..the more Arteta stays as the coach the more we likelihood arsenal will win no trophies..He is really restricting these players from playing!

  73. How will you keep relying on set pieces to win games? No bite no creativity just bland football. Arteta is really restricting these players from playing football.

  74. This defeat is down to Arteta
    Liverpool had a pathetic game today
    If Arteta would have been more risk taker then we would snatch the victory
    Benching Eze and playing Merino, Rice and Zubimendi was never going to work
    That midfield would have had more energy and life Eze, Rice Zubimendi would have started

    1. Or very least, make a very early sub to change things up. But truth is Mikel was aiming for a 0-0, and we all know it. That has been his approach every time he comes to Anfield and it has never worked. Liverpool are masters at finding a way. And the one time they are totally open and vulnerable in defense and midfield, Arteta still plays it safe. There was no intensity to our play until we were 1-0 down. So tired of it

      1. We can go back to Rodri when City were behind us in the league. At City, they were poor, we playedfor and got a draw. Rodri said at the time, Arsenal could and should have beat us, they played for a draw, they will regret it. AND WE DID.

  75. One great free kick allied with one keeper error and it’s all Arteta’s fault we lost apparently. Some people need to slap their own faces!

    2. It’s a lot of his fault. He’s the one who has gotten 1bill to spend and orchestrates a flat, drab game of football that cannot even create one chance for our striker.

    3. We scored 0 and we didn’t look like doing so for the whole game. Funny that a free kick and scapegoating a faultless guy is all you saw.

    4. Raya being a short goalkeeper is the reason he didn’t get to the free kick. He did nothing wrong except he is too small.

  76. We still don’t win a match Merino starts in AM

    It wasn’t Merino’s fault today though

    That almost 25 minutes that we dominate in the first half – we could have gotten a goal if the Arteta arranged a more creative team

    Martinelli done absolutely nothing for 70 minutes and you start a CM in an AM position

    1. Com’on man, Martinelli’s wasn’t good attacking wise but defensively he did good. You can’t say he did nothing.

  77. Really sad watching these good players play this way. Imagine Eze playing as a wing back..how would a player like that show his creative side? Liverpool was there for the taking yet we allowed them get away with a whole 3 points.

  78. I guess our game plan at the start was ok where we defense and ran down their energy . But luck is not on our side, except for that one free kick, they didn’t have many chances.

    Retrospectively, Eze could have started for Merino. Merino did well but we needed creativity. Our style of play is completely molded by our history of no center forward, we have no direct play. The same back play and no linkup, it is always about one attack player doing his own thing.

    Going forward. I hope we can change. Our first game against Man U was a lucky win and Karma is no joke. Our medical preparation and style of play both need work.

  79. Completely down to the way we approached that game. Scared to lose and scared to win. After all that expediture and all that choice to attack, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.The way we play has and will bring us nothing. Don’t get me wrong, Liverpool were negative themselves considering they were at home but we play not to lose football and it is killing us. I see a blank season ahead again under our stubborn, lacking manager.

  80. With how lucky Liverpool were in their opening 2 games, I honestly thought we’d take the game to them! They were there for the taking. Makes this defeat even worse…. so bloody frustrating. More late substitutions and why on earth didn’t Eze start???? The wait for a win at that dump goes on

    1. Look Sue, its a hard place to go too but Arteta got it all wrong. Our attitude toget a draw, killed us. Liverpool were not great, have not been great but have a better outlook on playing games than us. They do look forwards, we don’t. That was poor from us today, when we had control of the game.

      2. They always seem to find a way to win (with or without pgmol). Why can’t we, Reggie? It’s so bloody frustrating

        1. Sue, please don’t lower the tone😂 Lets get this straight, we lost the league last season, ourselves, nothing to do with luck or PGMOL. The same as today. Nothing to do wirh luck. POOR TACTICS!!!!

      3. Reggie, Mikel was so close. Why didn’t the 15 year old win it for us 😂. Someone needs to explain that sub to me, because it’s got to be the most clueless thing ive seen this week. Arteta takes no risk in his lineups but will take a massive one in the dying minutes of our hardest match of the season by throwing on a child… Can’t even imagine how much Nwaneri is fuming at that call.

        2. Thats Artetas new tactic, he thought he had stumbled on. His tactics are lacking. He take more away from the team that he puts in. A good manager does the opposite.

  81. Luck is not on our side but we can’t blame this on pure luck. Our win against ManU was lucky, and we won’t be always lucky.

    Eze should have started in the place of Merino as Martinelli’s defense kept Sala at home. Merino did a good job for someone who doesn’t play that positron. We are way too conservative in direct plays. Our attackers have been on their own, no linkup play whatsoever.

    How Liverpool cane back to life was quite telling. Our subs should have been earlier. We can see a sliver of hope with Eze but this overall style of play is unbearable.

    Another key point, our medical team and physical fitness team shall really reflect on something, one a game, that is insane.

  82. What’s with all the heat? Nobody goes to Anfield and expects a walk in the park. We pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off until its time to go again.
    We fell to something of a wonder goal … watch it over again. People chatting sh** and we’re three games in 🙁 kmt

    1. Believe or not, our midfield is missing Thomas Party. Arteta should take riks and play Mosquera in that position. Martinelli, Odaguard, and Merino should be benched.

      1. …Thomas Partey is gone – partly through his own doing: Get over it. Mosquera has shown to be a plus, Martinelli has proven fearless versus Lpool in the past (today was not his day), Odegaard came off the bench just as you wished so… what’s your point? Merino was not the reason for today’s loss. We’ll turn it around and we certainly be in the mix.

  84. We need to put Rice back at 6. Zubimendi is NOT the answer there. He may or may not be further up the pitch BUT not at 6 in the prem.

  85. If we get an experienced coach with these crop of players I can bet we would win trophies. It is sad the more Arteta sticks to this controlled pattern of play the more we won’t win anything. This is just so annoying.

  86. After six seasons, money spent and an expensive tactical team behind him, Arteta is an experienced coach. He just makes poor decisions. Take it as you will.

    1. Inexperienced coaches keep making bad decisions hence the tag ‘experienced’ may not be applicable in his case. Sorry to say.

  87. Reading all the comments above, if I hadn’t watched the game myself, I would have thought we’d been humiliated by three or four goals!!
    In fact, we were defeated by a wonder goal with just seven minutes to go.
    This after our game plan was disrupted after just eight minutes, when yet another injury saw Saliba taken off.

    With the squad we have now, every fan will choose a different starting eleven, who and when to use the subs and
    believe they know better than MA as usual!!

    Another conundrum is that, while the goal was brilliant, it was a “set piece” goal that we, as a club, have been crucified for scoring.

    When we play them in January, let’s see how that turns out shall we?!

    1. No ken, the point is, we have relied to heavily on set piece goals to get us out of the do do because our attack is lacking a lot of the time. That can not be applied to Liverpool. They have relied on their play and backed it up with set pieces. You didn’t need good eyesight today to see how negatively and set up we were to see our football was not likely to win us the game. We are GREAT usually at set pieces but not as our staple diet for scoring. Lets all hope in January we can stuff them but thats dreaming. Lets first talk about what may or may not have gone wrong. Or going wrong.

    2. Mr ken1945, definitely there couldn’t be any joker beyond you. Just 8 minutes, Artera capabilities were shattered and for the rest 84minutes, it was above his head to repair.
      What if it was a red card.
      You stark up players to the full, and now because it was one goal loss, it’s OK. No, no, no. How do you spend so much, even this summer alone, and this is what was offered.

  88. I wonder if Viktor would not be asking himself now if he chose the right club.
    Is this Arsenal coach ever going to finish his team building

    1. Its early days but you need a left footed left winger and a right footed right winger. We 100% we are not changing Saka, so the bare minimum would be a left footed left winger. He needs quick early, QUALITY service. Otherwise we might as well not play him.

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