Arsenal News Arsenal previews

Official Arsenal team to face Liverpool and live stream update

The biggest game of the season so far for Arsenal and there has been a lot of speculation over what sort of team Unai Emery would put out against the European champions.

Would he play Nicolas Pepe from the start? Would Mesut Ozil return to first-team action? Would Emery go with a back three? Would he keep faith with Joe Willock and where would he play Dani Ceballos?

These questions and many more have been debated all week long by fans, blogs, pundits and websites. well, we need not guess any more, the official team news has been announced.

The game is live in the UK on pay-tv channel Sky Sport and kicks off at 17.30 UK time.

Links will be put in the comments where to watch the game live and free so keep checking in.

Also, if you go to the official Arsenal website you will be able to get live commentary text.

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218 Comments

      2. Nothing to get scared we win or we go down fighting! Ozil’s not made it to the bench so we will not lay down at Anfield. Lucas may not be match ready.Masterclass by Unai.Xhaka adds some physical presence.COYG

          1. Loose Cannon, no Ozil to blame either…just the most awful team tactics and team selection.

            Still, I’m sure one way or another, it will all come down to Ozil.

    3. We fight together and die together.Its painful to watch us lose but that is all in the process to become a success as long as we keep fighting

    4. Sue my confidence just flew out of the window with Emery’s selection. I hope he is right. But I thought we’d start with Laca and Aubameyang. Good luck babe❤️

      1. Oh I feel your pain, Pat… I’m nervous… scared… I feel sick ? what a state I get myself in!! I’m gutted Laca hasn’t started… when will we ever see PAL??
        Good luck too, honey ??

        1. Sorry sue, please stay calm. This is a luxury game for Liverpool so I think I already struck it out. But who knows.

    1. Agree, think formation is a mistake, Emery is a tinker man.

      I’d rather see a 4-3-3

      Leno
      AMN. Luiz. Sokratis. Monreal

      Ceballos. Torreira. Guendouzi

      Pepe. Laca. Auba

      With this formation I worry about us chasing Liverpool all match, hopefully I’m wrong

      1. And who are you to tell others to shut up? Admin? No. Egotistic prat who thinks he knows everything? YES!

      2. nonny by name nonny by nature!!! heres the reasoning willock is woefully inexperienced hasnt made big mistakes so far against weak opposition nor has he been a forward threat or created anything xhaka guendo combo has not worked at any time i recall and certainly will be dominated in an area where with right combo we should at least hold our own against them and mn is not a defender against arguably the best attack in league … leaving better players on bench in one of biggest games of season is simply poor management … but its football so you never know so will see … as to your insightful comment …

  9. We’re screwed, and for three main reasons. One of our worst players is playing in Xhaka, no one upfront to hold up the ball as Laca is benched , and we’re starting with four central midfielders…yes four! Lineup is strange to say the least! Not happy with Emery. Let’s just pray it works!

    2. … and Ceballos on the left wing!!?? What’s the point of Ceballos being stuck out on the left wing?
      Can only hope UE has told the forward line to be ‘fluid’.

      You’re not the only one not too happy with Emery – Xhaka being made club captain!!?? What on earth was Emery thinking?

      Maybe Xhaka’s showing something in training that we’re not aware of. Freakin’ hope so as his match day performances are abysmal.

    2. I think it could be 4 – 4 – 1 – 1

      Pepe as SS (support striker)
      Auba as CF.

      But could be 4 – 4 -2 as well.

      I don’t think Ceballos would all of a sudden be tried on the wing at Anfield of all places.

  11. Team has been released and it’s a gamble once more from a coach who keeps experimenting all season long. Pissed off

    1. What did you expect? Only Lacca is missing. Lacca comes in second half to create PAL. 2-0 to the Arsenal.

    2. You can give me madrid n barcelona line ups n still he will play with odd selection. Why bench laca when he is the one we need for this match. Why bit use tirreira instead of xhaka

  18. Arsenal not buying an established LW might hunt us seriously. I just hope we can scale through till January and rectify that position.

  19. Pepe starts ,laca starts on the bench (very big sigh) ,only at arsenal .
    And where the fck is Ozil again ?

    1. I know it hasn’t even kicked off yet, Dan.. but I’m a little perplexed at the line up… especially in the middle… and no Laca… if we pull it off, Unai will be a genius, if not then… well I don’t even want to think about that!

      1. He is too negative, he always does that. Only way we can get a result out of this match was to attack with defence we have but as usual UE is living on some other planet. I just think we have changed from old wenger to young Wenger…totally stubborn in his way. God for bid if we loose with torreria n laca on bench that’s on him.

        1. Totallty different from Wenger. Wenger would go and attack and lose 4 -1 because at home Liverpool destroy every single team that matches them in attacking intent. Even City, don’t forget that, had to play more defensively last year to avoid a defeat.

          The purpose of this lineup is to stifle Liverpool’s midfield and prevent passes to their wingers.

          If it doesn’t work out, we can still try with 3 in front with Laca coming from the bench.

      2. Be very surprised if we get anything form this tbh ,
        Was quite optimistic this morning ,then for some odd reason Emery decides to give them a advantage form the start ,I know he’s the professional and we as fans dont know jack shit ,but reading the comments on here I’ve only seen one postitive post about the starting line up ,we can’t all be wrong can we .
        Let’s hope this gamble pays off

  20. Tactically Brilliant
    I Say So Because Only Torreira Marks With Intention In Our Midfield

    If He’s Not Starting We Probably Need An Extra Man To Mark In The Field If Needed – Therefore The Man With The Passing Responsibility Shifts To The Side

    That’s Ceballos

    Unai Needs To Instill Marking & Winning The Ball Back In The Whole Team

    Thats How Man City & Barca Play, Everybody In Their Wins Almost All Their Tackles – Only Torreira Does In Our Team

    That Said, The Only Way We Can Get Something Is If We Really – Really Want It Than Them – That’s A Very Huge Zest – A Very Huge Task – A Very Huge Ask

    Cos It’s Anfield, It’s The European Champions & Yeah Its A Better Team

    Notwithstanding, we watch, we support, if they want it more – they can have it.

  21. emery should have sacked at end of last season xhaka again when will emery learn xhaka is the reason wenger doesn’t have a job anymore on serious note does xhaka have nudes on emery how does this guy keep starting games

  23. After seeing the line up one thing I have to say
    Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven…………..

  25. How on earth could he bench Laca to put Xhaka in the fekking squad ?‍♂️
    Against L’pools pressing all I can see is him turning the ball over to them again and again ?
    Was quietly optimistic until I saw the lineup now I’m worried we are gonna get yet another drumming…..time will tell but I hope that Emery knows what the fekk he’s doing.

    2. Completely agree bro, who in their right mind would bench laca n torreria…..UE needs to realise he is at a big club now. That’s why PSG threw him out …he is small club manager.

  26. I see us owning the Second half with 2 First Team Players Coming On In Lacazette & Mhki after the New Boys have wearied them

    Just hope the defending hasn’t disgraced themselves before then

    Even Burley scored us a shameful goal

    By the way some people here rate Luiz a better Defender than Koscienly ?

    That’s bias

  27. ——-Leno——-

    Niles–luiz–papA–monreal

    Guendozi—xhaka—willock

    —Pepe—auba—cebelos—

    That is brilliant with exception of xhaka but who do we have to play there so I don’t think it’s any bad

    1. I put on a very similar line-up but sloting cebellos in midfield and putting martineli on flank to be honest playing auba and laca with auba as winger he isn’t going to give too much of a problem to their RB so cabelos is the only senior player that have the skill to play at rw so isn’t bad but we also need him in midfield that is the problem

  28. How the HELL does xhaka
    Start he’s a midfield version of mustafi
    Big mistake

    We have possibly the best top 3 we’ve
    Had for years and lacca is on the bench and mustafi 2 starts WTAF

    1. I think having a player of laca quality on bench can be great we have two excellent c.f. and today the coach what’s to play with two wide players so one has to give way

      2. Ceballos a wide player? Man of the match in central midfield last week! Emery’s thoughts on Ceballos:
        ‘I spoke with him before he came here, it’s to play as an 8 & as a 10. ‘Today, he started like a 10 but also changed with Willock in the 8 position. It’s where he can feel better on the pitch.’
        No mention of playing wide then…

    2. John0711 – yes it reminds me of when Wenger didn’t start Laca against either Liverpool or Man U back in the day.
      Didn’t make sense then and doesn’t make sense today.

  29. I like the line up. The only change I would make is play Torreira for Willock but other then that I like it. Torreira might not be ready yet. We just have to be defensively sound and hit them on counter with PEA and Pepe. If we try to go toe to toe with them we are in trouble.
    Let’s go boys!

    Man U just lost so so far so good Haha

  31. Very weak line up.
    Lacazette and Torriera should have started in places of Willock and Xhaka respectively

  34. I Like the line up simply because it’s unpredictable. That could work in our favour or against us though but I like it..

    At some point, we gonna need the bench. Lacazette, Torreira And the likes will be called upon.

    Liverpool haven’t lost at home in 2 years so let’s Just put up a good performance. Win, draw or lose please don’t get battered arsenal.

    CoyG!

  35. Xhaka in and no lacca l don’t like this at all emery better get something out of this game, l am sick of his love affair with the useless Xhaka.

    1. He is playing out of position
      I hate tactics that displace players and bench others who should start

      1. So we play with 10 as Xhaka is having a piss. Total waste of space, and I believe it too, that he has Emery’s nude pics, otherwise I don’t know what to think. Hopefully we sell German star, and may Swiss captain follows

    1. The arsenal we knew is dead. How did Liverpool become so much better than us ? We can’t get out of our own half.

    1. Wtf r u watching bra? This is one of the sorest tactical approaches I’ve ever seen arsenal play. This club doesn’t deserve this s$$t… I prefer playing with out dignity rather than watch this s$$t show!

  45. Surprise who gave the corner away
    He’s made 10 backpasses 1 forward pass that went for a goal kick and the corner which they scored from

  48. I was thinking how long Arsenal are going to stand …….David Louis lost
    his mark and Liverpool goal

    1. Nah watch again…. VD lifts Guendouzi out of Matips way to give him the space…. VAR should have been used to catch it ?

  49. Emery has a clear game plan and it seemed to be going okay. Stopped them from creating through the midfield and linking w/ their front 3. But giving so much space to their fullbacks. Bypassing midfield as often as we can to get the ball the pepe, who should have a goal. Sokratis, loses a header, which doesn’t surprise me. (VVD fouled, but we all know VAR will only work for certain teams) Luiz is easily our best defender now. Still not out of it, but we’ll need to take more risks countering. Pepe really could’ve made this easier for us if he had scored, ugh. But Unai’s approach has so far been pretty effective.

  52. This is why Emery needs to be held accountable. Laca scoring goals but goes with Xhaka who’s been out injured.

    Ceballos a boss in center, so naturally shift him to the left.

    Torreira has speed and good at interceptions and pressing, but nope let’s go with Xhaka.

    Arsenal playing like West Brom quite frankly. Emery kills the exciting football, tinkers too much, and rarely plays to our strengths, rather sets up to defend against opponents.

    Emery is like Jose minus the titles and silverware

    1. I agree that Emery is very pragmatic this time

      Defensive tactic will never work against Liverpool

      Fortune favours the brave, and the this cowardice tactic will not help them out against Liverpool and Man City

  53. Gwen Dozy and his nemesis Sideshow Bob are playing well.
    Pepe and Auba looking sharp.
    It ain’t over yet people!

  54. Sokratis is a walking disaster.pulling VVD on Liverpool goal
    VAR checking for a stamp from him on the same player .
    Ceballos is a passenger
    Pepe looks the real deal ,needs to work on his weak shots though .
    Robertson is a quality player can’t help but admire him .

  55. Being defensive against Liverpool is always suicide, why Arsenal never learned??

    Better attack them from the start. Losing 5-0 is fine as long as Arsenal play bravely

      1. Losing 1-0 and 5-0 will not matter, because it is still a defeat

        I’d prefer Arsenal to gamble by attacking Liverpool, rather than inviting the opponents in their own half

    3. We had better chances with tactics.
      When has that happened last at Anfield? Many years, that’s for sure.

      Not Emery’s fault that Auba and Pepe wasted excellent chances.

      Pepe is class, but like Henry when he first joined he will need a few matches to get his confidence up.

      1. exactly. I dont see the point in being “brave” if you are in reality just getting slaughtered. When we have done well away against big teams, we played more compact. It’s fun in theory to think a wide open game will mean we win, but we’ve already seen how that goes because Wenger has done it so many times and failed so many times.

    4. I always say so and have never had a problem with it. Why defend and still loose? How do you expect to win a game defending? Emery is not a manager. Today I curse him

  57. Did Xhaka have to give a corner with that clearance? There was no pressure on him to clear in a jiffy and give away a corner that resulted in a goal. With him and Guendozi playing as they are doing, Ceballos can’t play his game. His only goal scoring chance was when he passed to Mane, so much for all the building up of his prowess.

    Emery screwed up one more time with his team selection and tactics. Auba & Pepe have no one to supply them to keep their wingbacks pinned in their own half…instead Liverpool’s backline are playing in our half for most of the first 45mins. He cannot isolate our frontmen so much so they have to create a move and have a crack at the goal. Hitting on the counter needs a bit if luck and we could have been 2-0 up, but where is our midfield? Defending our goal.

    Are we going to have another poor season? I’m worried. Emery is not up there, to manage a team with the talent at his disposal. Unfortunate, but true. Rant over.

  58. To just score would be nice….I’m so pi**ed right now… to hang on.. no 4 goals shipped in 20 mins… but to just concede before half time… sucker punch or what?!
    Bring Laca on ffs I really cannot stomach another loss against this lot

    1. I’m so pissed right now, I wanted Us to show we can match Liverpool toe to toe but it seems like we are playing with 10 men.

  59. mesut ozil is being missed in this game. his very quick brain and his lightning feet would make the difference here.we need him to lead the team, there is no leadership on the pitch.we need his silky skills to prove once and for all that he is the best number ten in the world. where is he today , is he sick again , what is with this genius of ours.is he actually injured, od does emery not rate him.

    1. Great though isn’t it? He’s nowhere to be seen.. but Xhaka’s been out injured, walks straight back into the team!

  60. Emery is not a coach
    He cant complain now that he has no materials…..

    I just don’t know what he sees in Xhaka…
    what a useless coach

    2. Why is it Henderson always looks like messi when he plays against arsenal. But at least we now know that Emery is not the man for the job, said but true

  61. I don’t understand some of the comments here.

    Unlucky to be down from a set piece. Defence have prevented pool from creating any clear chances whereas we’ve had the nest chance. Midfield is suffocating theirs. We have been lucky that Robertson and TAA have been poor in their deliveries and there seems to be nobody assigned a creative role in our midfield. We’ve gone for a soak and counter tactic and it hasn’t been bad. Come on boys! Let’s have a second half to remember!

    2. Listen, this game is a carbon copy of the Burnley match. Playing out from the back just overloads our box and the ball never gets past the half way line. We survived one or two scares but inevitably we will be punished for playmaking in our own box when Mane or Salah latches onto a pass.

  64. If Pepe had just chipped the keeper it’d be a working game-plan in the first half, risky but working, done in by a set-piece is very unlucky esp the way Guendouzi was taking out of the challenge, his and Luiz height was meant to count but Sokratis is like a bull.

    Come on lads, come on you Gunners, fight our way back into the game.

  66. Here comes 5-1. Unbelievable. Year after year and we get embarrassed. Might as we bring on Alexander now.

  69. Emery excluding Laca and Torreria(
    how the F is is he not fit yet?) and
    giving Xhaka the captains armbabd is
    grounds for termination imho.

    For F sakes bring on Laca for
    Willock Torreria for the useless
    Xhaka, move Danny to the middle and
    attack the piss out of pool

    If your going to play defensive
    futbol Emery get the F out!

  70. This game was lost 45 minutes before ko when emery announced his utterly stupid team selection … so let me repeat my conclusion from last season … tactics but no strategy mean we are going nowhere with this guy in charge

  73. Not surprised at all. Emery set up to defend all game and soak up pressure.

    All the money we spent on attackers last 2 years and Emery still sets up defensively.

    Does Emery expect Liverpool to fluff chances?

    Why are we so bad away? Look to Emery and his tactics and team selection.

    What message does it send?

    He doesn’t trust attacking players to show their teeth, instead he trusts our sub par defenders to defend?

    Emery digging his own grave. He got players no excuses.

    What has Emery brought to Arsenal, honestly? Exciting football? Improving defense?

    The youth is to Freddie’s credit not Emery

    1. I’m off, 5-0 incoming. Emery has to go at year’s end. He offers nothing, rather see Freddie.

      Emery post game only piss people off. He’s a smaller club manager, tinkerman fool.

      #Emeryout

  74. Pepe is wasted in this team.
    Our keeper is not good enough.
    Defence all over the place.
    Xhaka playing.
    #EmeryOut.

  76. Don’t want to say I told you so … but FCUK ME I TOLD U So … emery is a third rate manager and needs to go asap

    1. Haha Haha….that’s what u get for a defensive shiti coach, I said before only way you can get result at Anfield is to attack. What’s de point of playing defensive football when you still loose n you know you have the worst defensive record.

  78. I’m done emery out

    We had a chance to go at Liverpool and he leaves out one of our top player for Xhaka

    The club have spent so stop blaming the club poor decisions and tinkering has cost us

    Losing 3-0 and bring our DM on for our attacking Mid

  79. Fock! Is happening again. We are a joke. Even so called small teams don’t lose by this types of margins all the time.

  81. 2 mistakes by David Luiz. I mean we have to admit that Liverpool is just better, simple as that. But our defence is still shocking. It’s been 5 to 10 years with bad defense.

    I gotta say, im not the biggest fan of unai Emery. The team always takes on personality of their coach and Emery just doesnt inspire confidence at all. We may get into top 4 but that’s the best we can hope.

  82. There was no brainer to start with Torreira, Guendouzi, and Ceballos as Midfield 3
    With Pepe on Right, Lacazette Through Middle and Aubameyang on Left
    It was pretty simple

    1. Yup…he needs to go. Atleast under wenger we played good exciting football…not this brainless football where no one knows what they are doing.

  83. we are still the losers of the top 6. No character. No intensity and no killer instinct. And no manager. How can you not play Laca and how can you move Cebbalos to a place where he disappears?

    1. Character of this team is still weak – thanks Wenger. Emery is just not the right coach to take us forward. Weak mentality

  84. Worst tactics from start n ppl here were supporting de way we setup for the match. It’s like you have messi n ronaldo in ur team but you play them as full backs.its like whole team just told not to attack at all.

  85. I am so pissed,we are losing this match purely because of poor team selection. Emery should not be tolarated if he continues this way.

  86. This is all down to the manager go me. Another bad team selection and why is No.34 always in the starting eleven?

    Three games in and I’m so pissed off. 3 zip down to a team that no threat for the 1st 40mins. No time or love for our manager today

    1. You have to be brave, you loose 5-1 or 1-0 it’s still a loss. You still loose 3points. This is not a home and away leg situation. Stupid UE.

      1. the last time we won a big away game we played defensively actually. Chelsea are the ones who have one of the better Anfield records, so that’s not entirely true. You need a good gameplan and a well coached side that has an identity to their play. Emery’s problem is that he keeps changing things and this current Arsenal team dont really have an identity or style of play.

        1. Stfu and go support Cheshit… we don’t do defensive and this under dog manger better get it or leave…

  87. Whole world except Emery knows about shaky defence of Arsenal. Why these monkeys are always playing Emery ball in danger area. Why did Emery spent 1.3 million without changing his Philosophy? Arsen wenger would have atleast gone for an entertaining attacking game with this squad…

  88. No first eleven
    Trust old players who are past their sale date
    Why do we keep trusting old players from Chelsea
    Emery is the reason we didn’t qualify for champions league
    Xhaka xhaka what is it he sees in this player?
    Why laca? How must he play to be considered?
    The team is good and needs a good coach

    1. Are we watching the same game? Guendozi is shite all the way through in this match, only bettered by Xhaka.

  92. We better not lose to spurs next week. By the way which style of football do arsenal play these days?

  93. Thank you Torreira (Woah) if only you’d started. At least those bell ends didn’t get a clean sheet with the god of defence VVD

    1. Ohh Come Sue….
      Don’t see VVD as God
      If you really want to see true defender then look at Rio Ferdinand
      That guy didn’t pick a single yellow for more than 8 years
      That’s incredible
      VVD is no way near of him

  94. Lacazette comes on and we are in Liverpool’s half mostly, plus we scored a goal. Says something?

    1. Agree Laca shuld’ve started. But LFC are also 3-0 up. They have no need to force anymore attacks and have dropped back.

  96. The fact that msitland Niles is a regular defender for us tells me we are still clueless as a team … hopeless player

  97. Going forward,Emery should stick with Chambers and Rob Holding at central defence. We would have a young promising CBs than experienced error prone CBs

  98. Emery shits the bed again. So tired of him. Boring football, bad selections, and kills confidence with his lineups.

    £200 million on front 3 second only to Liverpool, so Emery plays defensively again.

    Fire Emery before he kills Arsenal style and spirit. The club and league are too big for him.

    In his 2nd year and what has he brought? Exciting football? Improved defense? Squad competition?

    Emery brought tinkering that’s all.

    Freddie improved youth, have more faith in Freddie than Emery.

    #Emeryout

    2. Agreed. The man is out of his depth. An entire season later and he still does not know his best team and the team still does not have a playing style or identity.

  99. I have never seen a coach played to his weakness instead of his strength. If you wanted to contain Liverpool, use two defensive midfielders and allow our attack to remain the way it should be. Seriously Emery should be investigated for match fixing because I don’t understand what went through his head today.

  100. F*** Emery his letting his ego to get ahead of this team.How can anyone start xhaka ahead of anyone. No cm can cover for xhaka he is a liability if you look back at all the matches that arsenal have lost while xhaka is playing he did not cover the midfield when he is needed to defend he is always out of place or to slow to cover for anyone

    1. does anybody here have mr.wengers number please !. bring him back now i say !!.the club without tactics we are.at least with mr.wenger we could have passed the time watching the old trout trying to zip up his coat.bring back the arse !!!.

      1. That same man gave us trophies, champions league n amazing football for years. Were we not called boring boring before that. He is the reason why Arsenal became famous out of england. I dont care what all english fans say but truth is Arsenal really became a well know brand under him …recognized all over the globe.

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