Arsenal could really do with making a good start to this latest chase for the Premier League title, especially after both Manchester United and Man City got off to winning starts this weekend, but the squad situation is far from ideal for Arsene Wenger so the schedule of us facing Liverpool today and then Leicester City next week is far from ideal.
Next weekend the Frenchman should be able to call on Laurent Koscielny, Mesuyt Ozil and Olivier Giroud once again and we might even have signed another player or two by then, but for now the Gunners need to make the most of what we have in this potentially very tough test against a hard pressing Jurgen Klopp side.
I think that concerns about the pressure Liverpool will put us under has influenced the team selection of Wenger as well, as the summer signing Granit Xhaka and the silky skills of Santi Cazorla have been left on the bench, with the more combative and Premier League experienced trio of Coquelin, Elneny and Ramsey preferred in midfield.
As expected the central defence is made up of the youngsters Holding and Chambers, while THeo Walcott has been given the central striking role. The other big decision for the boss was about who to play on the right and he has gone for Alex Iwobi over Oxlade-Chamberlain and Campbell, with the Costa Rican not even making the subs bench.
Cech
Bellerin, Holding, Chambers, Monreal
Coquelin, Elneny,
Iwobi, Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez
Walcott
Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Wilshere, Xhaka, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlin, Akpom.
It is a strong looking bench but also a strong Liverpool side with Mane, Lallana, Coutinho and Wijnaldum, so we need a strong showing from the Gunners today. Will we get it?
Bob.