So the big day has arrived and who thought Unai Emery’s Arsenal would go 13 games unbeaten before reaching this stage? It is amazing and if Emery can make it 14 today there will be lots of happy Gooners at the end of the day.
Anyway, we all know we have a defensive crisis right now, but hopefully we shouldn’t be too badly off. This is the line-up that Pat J predicted earlier….
Leno
Bellerin (if fit) Mustafi Holding Maitland-Niles
Xhaka Torreira
Ozil Ramsey Aubameyang
Lacazette
But this is the team that Emery has selected from his walking wounded…
? Here's how we're lining up for today's game against @LFC
? @Bernd_Leno starts in goal
↩️ @HectorBellerin and @SeadK6 return from injury
? @MesutOzil1088 captains the side
⚡️ @Aubameyang7 and @LacazetteAlex both start#️⃣ #ARSLIV pic.twitter.com/AgjY5FThWg
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) November 3, 2018
So Emery must feel that Kolasinac is fitter and stronger than Maitland-Niles, but at least he is a specialist left-back. I’m not surprised Leno is now our first-choice in goal. Otherwise just a little surprised that Mhkitaryan starts ahead of Ramsey, but ‘Hey Ho’ Ozil is the captain….
Hard to improve much on the line-up. Monreal would have been great but very happy Xhaka is back in midfield and not at left back.
Same here, hope we’ll control the match today
COME ON ARSENAL!!!
AUBA ON LEFT WING AGAIN… HE IS INEFFECTIVE ON LEFT WING BUT IS DEADLY IN CENTRE AND PLAYING AGAINST LIVERPOOL KOLASINAC WILL HAVE AN IMMENSE OF WORK TO DO AT THE BACK BECAUSE AUBA NORMALLY DOESNOT TRACKS BACK
How do you know Auba will be on left wing?
Because that’s where he’s always been whenever we play him and Laca.One would’ve thought that Unai would be started with Auba at CF and put Iwobi at LW and Welbeck at RW even though he hardly plays there due to the poor form of Mkhitaryan.We are missing loads of goals with with Auba at LW.He could’ve scored more had he been playing at CF.Hes a “ball to feet” player so build is never his thing.He can still score though but playing Auba and Laca is the easy way out and if Arsenal have a winger in Iwobi who’s been playing well and the only person who can take on his man very well in this team then I don’t see why he should be benched.
Let’s wait and see eh because I’ve got a feeling…….
Eh auba is not a ball to feet player, he’s a ball to space player. Lacazette is a ball to feet player who gets involved a lot in buildup play
Line up is ON POINT!!! Kolasinac FIT! Bellerin FIT!! Fullbacks have come through we now have a real channce of winning this! So excited. COYG 3-1!
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How this can be called a strong lineup is beyond me.We are weak at the fullback,centre back and CM positions.I will not mention the names of the players but it you look carefully I’m sure you can see what I mean.
Come on Kev… that’s as good as it gets
He’s a doom monger Sue as per all his posts.
Please do not call me a doom monger.If you read my posts then you’d know I’m not like those who always see us losing or getting thrashed.Those who prefer secret love than openly critcizing the team think they are better than those who criticize.Those are the kind of fans who typify how mediocre we are.Call me anything you want but if in the year 2018 I’m an Arsenal fan then you think I don’t know by now what’s called support?
You are right Kev …it will be imperative all 4 of them focus on defensive duties allowing terriera a bit more freedom to go forward and link up with Miki and ozil … We have a good attack but it lacks the pace that theirs has so discipline at back is imperative … If so should be a tight game
With the way Liverpool defend I would’ve wanted one player who could at least run at his man but I hope we still beat them.Xhaka in there worries me as he cannot escape a press or drive the team like a box to box player.
I wouldn’t blame Emery for his lack of options on the backline, Gadizis/
Wenger/Kroenke should be tarred and feathered for their complicity in
assembling this collective unit. Other than a fit Boss and possibly Socrates
not one of the remaining first team defenders are good enough to be
consistently featuring for a Top Four team.
What are you on about! You obviously are not watching this game!
Really bro? You are not gonna mention the players? You really are gonna keep them annonymous? What is beyond me is how you think this is not the best lineup Arsenal aver played this season? As far as I’m concerned it was a good 1st half considering the opposition. If lacazatte and kolasinac are a little sharper, we might even win it
I am excited to see this line up let the guys who earn the big box get it done for once thank you Unai 3-1 to the gunners
Solid attacking line up but potentially suicidal if Miki, Ozil and Auba collectively
decide to ignore there defensive responsibilities. Throw in 2 both starting fb’s
and a CB who even when on good form are from proficient defenders and this
has the potential to snowball terribly for the Gunners.
Hope and Pray that I’m wrong but I just don’t see Arsenal scoring enough goals
to see off Pool.
Love the project that Emery is building @ the Emirates but just not enough horses in
the stable atm.
Hi Guys.
In games like this, the most important thing is the desire (work rate if you like).
In hope we show that today against a really good side.
Can’t wait for the match, just hope this rain doesn’t spoil it for me.
Would have preferred Lichtsteiner over Bellerin BUT otherwise the strongest team we could produce
COYG
Oh god I wouldn’t… he’d be run ragged!!!
Totally agree Sue, he’s useless when being run at.
These are talented players. Come on Arsenal!
My preferences:
442
4231
3412
————————Leno———————–
Bellerín—-Mustafi—-Holding—-Kolasinac
Özil——Torreira—Xhaka——Mkhitaryan
———-Aubameyang—-Lacazette———-
or
————————Leno———————–
Bellerín—-Mustafi—-Holding—-Kolasinac
———–Torreira—Xhaka——————-
Mkhitaryan——–Özil——-Aubameyang–
——————-Lacazette—————
or
————————Leno———————–
——Mustafi—-Holding—-Kolasinac——–
Bellerín——Torreira—Xhaka——Mkhitaryan
————————–Özil———————-
———-Aubameyang—-Lacazette———-
It is 4231…
This is 10 Özil’s team if delivers a victory.
I hope Welbeck is in for Mkhitaryan…
If we could get a win today that would be fantastic. With United finally getting their act together we need it. We can not afford miss top 4 this year. If we get there is a window for Emery if we don’t we are pretty doomed. HUGE GAME! Surprised Emery didn’t draft in Maitland-Niles at CB given how bad every on here insists Mustafi is surely Emery sees that lol.
With United it’s been more luck than judgement!! But yes I agree – we need to be in the top 4!
Agree but they have decent players and they will buy the CB’s Mou wanted in the summer in Jan. Trouble with United they always have cash to burn.
All the negativity is killing me listening to this guy should be there and this guy’s going to be here. Stop. The manager has made his choice the buck stops with him. Get over it. Time for the players to Deliver.
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Hope we can rise to the occasion tonight…would love to silence the commentators and pundits. We need everyone at the top of their game, and can’t afford a slow start…we could find ourselves out of the game if we give up as many chances as recent games.
COYG!
Auba looks sharp tonight
It seems Liverpool will batter us…
Tighten up on Salah FFS
Cant continue to give up these quality chances and the goal could of easily
stood.
and if MIKI cant put away a sitter or care to track back then his ass needs to
be replaced ASAP
I’m watching this on Liverpool TV aka BT Sports – painfully biased
He comes from Uruguay, he’s only five-foot high….Torreira !
Wow Arsenal are playing out of this world. Torriera is just amazing.
I can’t believe I would say this one day, but we are pressing better than Liverpool!!!
Go UNAIIIII
Tempting fate, but Xhaka playing well
…the entire team is…
Leno is a lucky boy….
So is alisson, he made the same type of mistake when he took out mkhi. We got lucky with the mane goal but i think its high time we started getting lucky as a club.
Xhaka’s best big game so far. Him and Torreira have the best Arsenal player on the pitch.
Wow Torreira and Xhaka….Phenomenal! Great first half. Let’s win this. COYG
It’s only me or the commentators are always biased… They never see anything good from Arsenal… Every offside by Arsenal is a clear offsite and everything by Liverpool it was close maybe he was on.. Seriously they need a reality check and should comment on the basis of the quality not their liking or hate rated..
I am enjoying this game. Hopefully we won’t regret the half chances we missed. I am impressed though. If there’s anyone who deserves the lead in the first half then it’s us.
Great first half with Auba playing well as a wide Striker and good performances throughout the team, Mustafi, Xhaka, bloody everyone. Can’t wait for second half. Two great teams but we need to watch the ball over to Sala on our left. Kala doing ok coming forward but needs to guard against that.
….the god thing is WE can keep this display going..
…all who think its going to be a goal fest are crazy – the first to make a mistake will forfeit this tie..
I feel great watching this. We are well and truely competing. Klop is screaming his lungs out… he should save his breath, coz we got some really pacey guys on the bench coming on as the game wares off….COYG!
Torreria absolute fearless beast! He’s absolute diamond. Too early to extend his contract?
We’re bossing midfield with Torreria and Xhaka, glad Ramsey on bench. Can’t believe we’re outpressing and out hustling Liverpool. Boys look hungry and up for it.
Shame it’s so quiet in the Library tonight, fans not matching intensity team is showing unfortunately. Seems that way on tv anyway.
2nd half magic for us hopefully, bit of fine tuning and maybe subbing Mhki for harder working Welbeck. Could use bit of strength and speed
Torreria has been as good as advertised, such a tenacious little devil in the
midfield that is even bringing out the best in Xhaka.
Have always been a MIKI fan but Welbeck and Iwobi simply bring more well
rounded games to the Emery equation atm. If the Armenian isn’t going to take
his chances he needs to sit ASAFP.
Great first half but Arsenal NEED to win these types of games.
Whatever happend in second half , the first half was our best this season by a huge amount. Proud of our new found spirit this season and we edged the first half against a brilliant oppoent. Famous last words , maybe, but I am thrilled , so far!
Very good 1st half. All played well.
Leno is out of luck…
I don’t think so…
He is not good enough…
Good with feet and reflexs but his arial prowess is poor
He should have catch that ball instead of pushing away…
judgement as a keeper is much weaker than Czech
Does Arsenal have ANYBODY that will step up to the occasion?
I would worry a little.. No…
There are chances… but luck is not there.
No one there for the crosses, compared to Liverpool, who train for that cross.
Time for Welbeck’s speed. He should always play for the effort he gives.
Why take Auba off when we need a goal for a guy who held the club to ransom, got his contract withdrew & now he’s leaving….
Leno probably should of better on that cross but Arsenal are NEVER going to
beat POOL 1-0. lol
Over $150M in attacking talent on the pitch and we cant muster a freaking goal?
SMH
Arsenal need to replace that defence.
It simply is NOT good enough.
We will never achieve anything with that defence…
Gutted at our unbeaten run ending against those bell ends ?
Oops maybe not ????
Even if Liverpool wins this by 1-0, I am still happy with our work team. I believe better reinforcement in our defence is coming in January/Summer.
The only scar and regret I have so far is Crystal Palace 2-2 result.
yessssssssssssssssssssss
????????
Laca!
Lacaaaaa!
…individual piece of brilliance
and iwobi well done for assisting #COYG
bad luck for Welbeck
…they have ‘pool’s measure.
Need players like Welbeck to start. His effort and ability will open things for others.
1-1 is good.
Well done boys!
A fair result.
Arsenal showing improvement all the time – playing against the same team last season under Wenger they would have beaten us.
Arsenal getting stronger.
Still need better defender(s) though…
Lots to be positive about…
COYG!