Arsenal will make the trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool this evening with doubts over some of our players, while two are already ruled out.
The Gunners have the chance to move into the fourth with a win this evening should they beat the Reds in their home stadium, and while that wouldn’t have been an easy task with our full squad available, we appear to have some key absentees.
Granit Xhaka remains ruled out as confirmed by Arsenal Media, with the Swiss international not expected to return to full training until 2022, while Sead Kolasinac succumbed to injury during the international break, with him being forced to be replaced against Finland.
Mikel Arteta admitted during his pre-match press conference that he had further issues to deal with as his players returned to training, with Thomas Partey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang two of those whose participation is yet to be confirmed, although the majority of news sources have been confident on the pair being ready in recent days.
Predicted Arsenal XI:
Ramsdale
Takehiro White Gabriel Tierney
Saka Partey Lokonga Smith Rowe
Lacazette Aubameyang
I’m not expecting either of Partey or Auba to miss the match, despite Arteta’s pessimistic comments, and don’t see why the manager would be looking to change the system that has got us firing in recent weeks. It wouldn’t be a major shock if he did revert to a back five however, keeping Nuno Tavares in the side whilst also bringing Tierney back in.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the Spaniard has opted to make that change ahead of taking on one of our toughest rivals, and KT could well take Lokonga’s spot in the team should the manager make that decision today.
Will Mikel be keen just to stick to our strengths today or do you expect his team to line up differently to combat Liverpool’s strengths?
Patrick
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Yes he should stick to the winning team, so we can get the chance to assess progress made so far against top teams…rather than change it and bring up doubts and what ifs..
Losing the match after putting up a serious fight wouldn’t be as painful as losing with a conservative approach that failed in the Chelsea,man city games early season…
I rather have arteta make plans of how to trouble the Liverpool backline with our inform attackers than contain salah,mane & co…
Let’s go gunners
No like
a winning team must not be changed
Terney out Tavarez in
Yes Bro I’m with you
Tavarez in Tierney Out
for the arsenal part I wish them all the best in control of humble and capable coacher
Don’t see Tierney replacing Lokonga if we went to a back 3, we need two CMs in the side, so it could only be one of Saka, ESR, Laca or Auba who could make way
If we go with a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-3,
It would be better to have More aggressive players on the pitch like Tavares, Tomiyasu, Maitland-Niles, Lacazette and Martinelli ,
Aubameyang would only further stress our wingers, so Martinelli is my pick, to play in front of Lacazette,
Hoping for a draw atleast.
👌💪
Salah must not be allowed to be isolated.
Arsenal must watch him like a hawk.
Get two three gunners near him and stifle him.
If Ronaldo can be neutralised,surely
Salah can be too.
Coyg and win 1-0
we should play all three of Partey Sambi and Niles in midfield together, to combat their physicality aswell… Auba Should be sacrificed for ESR at left wing.. I don’t see him doing much in this game..
Tavares and Lacazette should continue ahead of Tierney and Odegaard respectively
Lacazette
433 my pick
Arteta should try and bench auba for once.
That guy don’t do much in big games, playing him against Liverpool is a waste of space.
Lokonga is also very light weight, I think Arteta should consider playing Nile and Partey in the midfield.
Mane and Sallah should not be given a breathing space, tomiyasu and tarverse/ tierney must be very sensitive and tactically aware. Sallah is a very intelligent player to watch out for.