My Arsenal XI to Beat Livepool on Sunday! by AT
Following comprehensive wins against Newcastle United and away at Galatasaray in the Champions League, Arsenal will go into the big game against Liverpool full of confidence. Despite numerous injuries continuing to plague the side, Arsene Wenger can still pick a very strong starting eleven to not only match Liverpool but also beat them. Here’s the starting eleven that I think should take to the pitch at Anfield.
Starting from the back, the Gunners can finally field a strong defence despite Laurent Koscielny continuing to be on the sidelines. Callum Chambers will return from suspension and I’d slot him alongside Per Mertesacker at the heart of the Arsenal backline. Fit-again Mathieu Debuchy will take his place at right-back and Kieran Gibbs, as expected, will start at the opposite side. Needless to mention, Wojciech Szczesny will continue in goal.
Moving on to the centre of the park, Arsene Wenger doesn’t have too many options as a result of the injuries to Arteta, Wilshere and Ramsey. Keeping the various casualties in mind, I’d go with Mathieu Flamini as the defensive midfielder and alongside him should be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain if he’s passed fit, otherwise it will have to be Francis Coquelin accompanying his compatriot. Santi Cazorla has been in a rich vein of form recently and considering the Spaniard is the only fit Number 10 at the moment, he will certainly continue in that role.
And finally, the forwards. This is one area of the pitch where Le Prof has an abundance of options, but keeping in mind the game against the Magpies last weekend, I think Danny Welbeck, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez all deserve to keep their place. Sanchez is unarguably the biggest threat in this Gunners side while Welbeck has been another consistent performer up front, and Giroud has returned from injury in red-hot form. In addition, Theo Walcott is back in training and is expected to make the bench.
There is no doubt that Arsene Wenger can field a very strong starting eleven at Anfield. The only concern is the fitness of The Ox, if he isn’t passed fit, we might be a little soft in the midfield with Coquelin coming in. With fingers crossed in regards to the availability of the Englishman, Arsenal can field a starting eleven that will be way too strong for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
My Arsenal XI: Szczesny; Debuchy, Chambers, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Flamini, The Ox/Coquelin; Sanchez, Cazorla, Welbeck; Giroud.
Anurag