It would have been a lot better for Arsenal if the Championship side Bournemouth had given Liverpool a rougher ride in the Capital One cup quarter-final last night. Extra time and penalties were what we really wanted, but the Gunners can still make use of that game to our advantage.
The fact that Bournemouth got a goal back and pushed hard for the last half hour was certainly a bonus. Not only did it mean that the Liverpool players could not relax and had to put in a real shift right until the end of the game, it also meant that Rodgers could not afford to replace so9me key players like Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson.
And because of their recent struggles, it is very unlikely that the Reds boss will want to change the team that won last night. So all of his big players are likely to start and they are bound to be less fresh than the Arsenal lads. Not only are we used to midweek Champions League games, unlike them, but we have had a week off while they must be in the red (pardon the pun). Wenger wisely increased this advantage by giving the whole squad three days completely off this week.
The Frenchman can really make this pay even more on Sunday by getting Arsenal to focus on possession. It will frustrate the home team, quieten the crowd but also sap their strength. I would not be surprised to see a cautious game from us before a late burst. So be patient Gooners and wait for the killer blow!