This is the big one, the winner today will be league leaders at Christmas and in fact, a draw will be enough for Arsenal to stay top over the festive period and this is the team that Mikel Arteta has selected.
🟡 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔵
💪 Saliba at the back
⚖️ Rice in the middle
🙌 Jesus leads the lineLet's go, Gunners 👊 pic.twitter.com/3PIWqD80aY
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 23, 2023
Arsenal has struggled at Anfield in recent years but there is confidence within the club and fanbase that the lads can get a result today.
That said, Liverpool is formidable at home and will be a tough nut to crack but make no mistake, they are beatable and Arteta’s men have as good a chance as Klopp’s side of getting the win today.
Arsenal will have to quieten down the Anfield crowd and contain the Reds frontline but they will also have to be very wary of what Arsenal can bring to the game.
It is going to be an exciting encounter and hopefully, one that will see Arsenal not lose and still be at the top of the standing come Christmas day.
Zinny at left back worries me
You are not alone in this.
Be rest assured many of us are.
All we have is hope that we’re able to get a couple of goals in before our opponents start to turn the screws.
He isn’t as bad as that. It depends on how we allow spaces in behind us
He’s no a left back , need to stop this experiment . Doesn’t follow his man , block crosses , defend ….They are going to run riot down that wing with Salah
You were right to worry. Zinchenko gives Salah too much space and gets roasted by Salah. A shift to his left, gets space from Zinchenko, and it’s a goal.
Zinchenko is too weak defensively and too easily bypassed. He simply has to be replaced and not play LB. Numerous times last year he was the weak link, out of position and easily bypassed to concede a goal.
His offensive contributions DO NOT outweigh his liability as a defender.
No surprises in the line up
Let’s go!
Havertz is going to have to double up with Zinchenko on Salah.
It’s arguably the best starting lineup with the players we have available.
Trossard is our super sub
I’m feeling good about this. I will settle with a draw but want a WIN badly
COYG
We are NOT going there to defend with that line up!!
Well done MA – my only problem is Zinchenko over Kiwior, but I have a great feeling about this game IF we don’t concede either early or first.
2-0 to The Arsenal!!
We have to be wary of Liverpool counters. Their lack of control in midfield attract opposition to press higher which gives them a ridiculous the amount of counter attacking chance for a top team. Compare that to how teams sit low vs us and City even went a goal down.
*even when
I fear for Zinchenkoat left back. Might be skinned by Sala. Fingers crossed
Always a way Salah again Zinchenko
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Blimming brilliant!!!
This is it, the massive one.
Close shave for offside though
Shades of Ian Wright and Gillette SueP 😂😂😂
The best a man can get 😊
Clear instructions by arteta don’t bloody play short against gengenpressing pool.
Smart. Gotta be pragmatic in this type of games
Better for our hearts
How can you defend like that? Zinchenko?????????
I agree but it was a great finish
Yes it was. But sticking out a foot like that in the box? That’s not intelligent.
Salah has just done what he does best.
We have no reason to leave Zinchenko alone with Salah
I thought OZ had done well up until then…
For a player as dangerous as Salah, that was a team error
Zinchecko again.
Zinchenko at fault again
Salahs gonna have a field day against Zinny…Jus sayin
I think Saka has progressively gotten weak and infective at wing play.
Why Zinchenko continues to be alone with Salah
Kiwor for Zinchenko otherwise Salah is going to roast him. EVERYBODY can see the problem.
When Gabriel covers Zinchenko we get too exposed in the box. Rinse and repeat until Arteta has mercy and subs off Zinchenko.
Kiwior won’t do much when he’s left alone with Salah
That’s an interesting point
What do you suggest Arteta does to keep Salah quiet – if anything?
Martinelli has been so wasteful today.
He held on to the ball too long
Has always been a weakness for him decision making.
Anyway goal would have been cancelled as i think saka was offside
Many other incidents where he made nothing out of promising positions
Wow, what a half!
End to end stuff with honours even
Need to make Marty and Shy Havents play a bit deeper starting position. And track Salah. Seems the only way we can get through is playing through the middle….
We mean business, but just one brain fart from Zinchenko is enough, as usual.
Either of Havertz and Odegaard should be subbed. Jorginho or Elneny to be brought in.
Trossard for Martinelli, Then surely against Salah just bring in Kiwior.
How many times will Zinchenko do us in against Liverpool for us to get a natural L.b
We have loaned one out…
I thought we started ok but then we became weak in the tackle, we need to battle more, show some passion and for want of a better saying
“get stuck in” ffs
@Vlajko he is doing so well where he is.In this life ,One man’s loss is another one’s gain.
Once again our wastefulness costing us in a big away match. Should have at least 2 goals up before salah scores
Good set-piece goal by Odegaard and Magalhaes, but Arsenal were obviously nervous. Anfield atmosphere has simply been too much for Arsenal players and managers in more than one decade
Odegaard was lucky to escape from the penalty punishment. Zinchenko, Magalhaes and Raya couldn’t prevent Salah from cutting inside/ scoring
I think Liverpool are going to score again if Arsenal are still nervous in the second half
I don’t think it’s nerves GAI but more that the crowd have become almost frenzied and that adds to the atmosphere
zinny isn’tthe problem… he has defended many crosses to salah so far and some cut backs are going to happen…Problem is Raya is just too f short to defend any shots up… just look at his position for the goal
Zichenko is a liability
Every player in the world knows, both Saka and Salah is going to cut back on their left
Poor Zinchenko is taking the flak for the Salah goal, but once again Gabriel stood off with his arms behind his back and failed to get near the scorer.He has done this on numerous occasions this season and his failure to engage the opposition attacker has proved costly yet again.Someone has to get this message across to the Brazilian.You cannot defend properly with your arms behind your back as you lack balance and are unable to spring out to block shots.Let’s hope it does not prove to be too costly tonight.
That was a stupid yellow by Rice, completely unnecessary.
We are not coping with their pressure. Zinchenko is drowning and cant swim against the Salah’s tide.
We are holding on a twig so far.
Hopefully we can surprise them and shut their loud mouths.
Our left side is non existent atm…
Martinelli tries too hard to walk the ball into the net at times
He is a real weak link in today gameplay. If he has little bit of what salah has he would have scored few goals today
Must be fun to be able to press relentlessly knowing your countless fouls either won’t be called or rarely carded.
We need a bit of inspiration from the bench
Overall Gunsmoke I think they’ve done pretty well. It’s a cauldron of emotion and whilst Liverpool are edging it right now, the game has been end to end and it’s impossible to call…. But it’s not to say that a reboot might be needed
Yes we have done well under the circumstances, Klopp seems to have gotten a favorable response from his faithful, just thinks there is one final twist
We need a change on the hour mark, but a one all is not a bad result
Zinchenko has to go, he’s completely rattled.
Liverpool had their strong period and we held on, barely but we need. Now we need to be calm and pick them apart when their tired legs can’t press as strongly.
*needed to
How endo avoided second yellow???
Perplexed as well literally flattened jesus there.
A very intelligent player is Tossard
Save by the bell
Blimey O’Reilly
What a mix up and how did Liverpool miss that? Who says that the nerves aren’t getting to them as well?
Come on Eddie
Be steady
And get the winning goal
800 million spent and Nketiah is our last hope. How glad will I be for him to shut me up!
Why is no one talking about Saka???
He isn’t been effective out on the right.
We need him back.
*being effective
He has come to life in the second half.
I know we aren’t playing well but our players haven’t been able to keep their footing all game. Did we bring the wrong footware or someting cause liverpool players are fine.
I’ll take this result all day.
Tremendous results!
A good point, we now knows we have the resolve and resilience
Phew!
I am certainly not complaining about a draw in a hard fought tussle and it was generally played in good spirit despite the yellow cards.
Nobody let the team down – not Zinchenko, who I thought overall did pretty well
Construction workers don’t work so hard as lads did… fine by me. This isn’t the place where the title is won. Upwards and onwards!
What a relief. We survived their endless pressing and got a point from a tough match
Zinchenko awful performance
Matinelli and Saka worst games I’ve seen them play
Havertz gabriel and rice very good
Saliba is the best CB in the world right now
So why does he not start for France?
Because the manager is an idiot 🤷🏻♂️
Would you swap him ???
At least we didn’t lose. All I’m sayin
We looked like the team who played midweek
Kinda quickly looked tired
Saka, Martinelli ineffective almost throughout
Seems we didn’t remember to use the Kai-Havertz-Extra-Man-Entering-The-Box Advantage
A great result and what a team performance.
Unlike last season, we will not roll over for anyone and we proved that today.
Why our officials find it so difficult to protect the likes of Saka I just cannot understand and, likewise, why they find it so difficult to hand out a second yellow card!!
Let’s not hear anymore NONSENSE about carrying Havertz or any other player come to that and I include Zinchenko, who is being played out of position, in that statement.
Once we have Timber back and MA shows faith in Kiwior, the Ukrainian will be able to fill Partey’s position when / if he’s not available.
Really looking forward to the fa cup game and the return PL fixture – I’m not sure Liverpool will be, especially if we address our CF issue.
I wonder why we keep saying things like:
“Unlike last season we will not roll over…”,
“Unlike last season we are now resilient”
“Unlike last season we can now defend a goal”
Firstly, we’ve over said these statements
Secondly, I still think this team hasn’t hit the peaks last season’s team hit