Morning all.
The fixture to dread, a stadium to fear but during these times of Coronavirus, the atmosphere at Anfield will very different than ever before for Arsenal tonight. No crowd to sway the officials, no twelfth man to get behind the home team.
Liverpool’s opening fixture was at Anfield. They won it but not with conceding three goals to newly promoted Leeds Utd. Van Dijk looked nothing like the defender his reputation holds, in fact he was nearly as bad as when Arsenal defeated Liverpool at The Emirates towards the end of last season. He’s a big guy, a strong guy but it seems that he can also be a weak link if he’s off his game. Their second fixture, away to Chelsea was an easier three points. Playing against ten men certainly helped their cause.
Arsenal’s opener saw a convincing performance send Fulham packing with ease although our second fixture, at home against West Ham was less than easy. We won and that’s about it.
At Anfield tonight, I fully expect Mikel Arteta to be focused on defending our goal rather than attacking theirs. A low block is I think, the posh name for a defensive setup although with the quality Liverpool have in attack, I think we’ll need a low, middle and high block. Defend solidly and hit them on the break. It’s the way we seem to play away from home, certainly against the so-called better sides. We’ll see.
After a run of pretty awful performances against Liverpool, barring the home fixture under Unai Emery which we really should have won, the string of losses finally came to an end just a few weeks ago and then like buses, two came at once.
2012, eight years ago, Robin van Persie in the dying minutes of the first victory in that year. Szczesny saved a penalty that day, the rebound too. Kenny Dalglish was their manager. Just a few months later, we beat them again with Podolski and Cazorla scoring the goals, Diaby bossing the midfield. It’s hard to believe it’s so long ago.
Times have changed so much for both clubs. Managers have come and gone, players too and as Liverpool look to retain the Premier League title, Arsenal are looking to at least close the gap. For what it’s worth, I think we will as long as injuries don’t hit us hard.
Kieran Tierney is back in full training according to the official website injury update so hopefully he’s fit for selection. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him and AMN controlling our left side. Nor would I be shocked to see Elneny back in midfield.
I think the recent victories over Liverpool will give Arsenal a bit more confidence ahead of the game. Not arrogance, just more belief. Liverpool have a group of great players, we know that but so do Arsenal and the squad is in a much better place mentally than it has been for a long long time. Probably since that last win at Anfield in 2012.
Arsenal aren’t perfect by a long way, Mikel Arteta has told us that there are many things to work hard on, just as he’s said his squad is unbalanced but in time, both will change. The hard work will continue daily, weekly and over the seasons to come. The remaining few days of the transfer window will hopefully help to resolve the squad balance but for now, it’s more of the same from this Arsenal team. Play without fear, play with pride for the shirt and work hard for each other from start to finish.
Put the Anfield history behind us, apart from 1989 that is, and come away with three points. Although I’d take a point right now if it was offered.
See you in the comments guys.
Good post rico, morning. I’d love a point too. And no VAR talking points at the end of it.
In fact it’s not VAR at fault at all, it’s a good thing if used intelligently. Cricket has really benefitted. The rules and interpretations are to blame, whoever took away the ‘accidental’ from handball was daft, how can a ball kicked against someone from close range be a penalty?
Hi Rico and all according to some reports Liverpool have some top players out but either way tonight should give us a guide on how we will go this year. I’m guessing a draw 2-2
Good morning Rico, how nice it is to feel not dread, at the thought of playing Liverpool at Anfield, but a feeling that we have a chance of upsetting the odds.
Leicester showed the way to beat a possession obsessed side yesterday. A backline of five with a line of four in front of them when playing without the ball. Then quick counter attacks to get behind the defenders.
We can do something similar. The pass over the top out of defence and an assured finish from Aubameyang is the kind of thing we need.
Can we make it three wins out of three? We shall see.
Morning Andrew, thanks. Ditto, let’s hope VAR isn’t involved at all tonight and we’re left talking about a good game with a positive Arsenal performance.
Andrew yes it’s hard to avoid being hit when the ball is so close but on the other maybe it’s some thing that we need to to add to our game so when in trouble in the box try to hit our opponent in the arm whether we like it or not it is becoming part of the game now
Morning Geoff, Cicero.
An empty stadium will do us more good than Liverpool I think. The fans at Anfield have an enormous input I think. Fear into the opposition, passion for the home team. I think Henry once said it was the best stadium as far as fans go.
I think Arteta will play in a very similar way to Leicester. Just as he did against City and Liverpool at Wembley and we know Klopp hates playing against the so called low block. Posh name for how clubs used to play against the latter Wenger teams.
Nice one, Rico 👍 The heading made me chuckle, made me think of titanic “It’s been 84 years” 🤣 Hopefully it won’t ever come to that!!
I hope we’re all careful with our hands and arms tonight. Would hate for the game to be decided on something like that!
All that talk of Alisson and Thiago out is a load of codswallop, they’ll be in that starting 11!!
And after yesterday, their fans have said they ‘expect’ to win the league now, so how satisfying would it be to wipe the smile off of their faces as well as Klopp’s!! Arrogant tw@ts!!
We’re in for a pulsating 90 minutes! COYG
Thanks Sue, haha, lets hope not.
The talk of injuries is Klopp playing mind games I’m sure which I guess we should take as a compliment. As for them winning the league, it’s far too early for their fans to be bragging about that. I think this season could be wide open with a few surprises.
I hope the next week sees a midfielder or two arrive at Arsenal.
Morning all.
Isn’t it nice to be heading to Anfield with some degree of confidence?
It’s been a while 🙂
Interesting team selection tonight. Tierney back in at left CB, Gabriel in middle, and AMN as left wingback? Or Luiz back as CB and Tierney as wingback. Either way, I think Kolasanic will be replaced. Or Saka instead of AMN at wingback?
Then Elneny recalled to play like he did at Fulham? And Willian to keep out on the right or Pepe to finally lift-off his Arsenal career with an Arshavin-like performance against Liverpool?
Few decisions for Arteta tonight, but good ones to have to make.
Longshots, 50-1. A flat back four. Or Ozil back in the squad!
When we have possession we should play with a back three, allowing our wing backs to move forward. When we don’t have possession we should revert to a back five to provide defensive width to counter Robertson and Mane.
Its going to be a tough night all round.
I think Arteta will go with Luiz, Tierney & Gabriel, fitness allowing.Bellerin & AMN (possibly Saka) as wingbacks.Forwards Settled,Auba,Lacazette,Willian. Midfield harder to predict; Xhaka + 2 others.
Trust in Mikel
COYG
It’s going to be a long old season for Fulham..
Arsenal XI: Leno, Holding, David Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Where did the A go?!! 😆
I agree about Fulham, Rico…
Surprised no Gabriel after he was rested midweek.
It’s back Sue. Lol
Strange one re Gabriel. Thought he’d done well so far.
That should be a red! Dirty bastard!
Thanks Rico 😉
You’re right, he’s a real dirty sod
I wish Lacazette would stay on his feet.
See, stay on your feet. 😂
Really sloppy to concede there.
Not really in the game , losing every 50 -50 and the playing out from the back is meat and drink to them.
Just having the very same conversation Potter
If we had Martinez in goal we’d still be 1-0 up.
Leno doesn’t catch the ball he flaps at it for the first and he was slow to smother Robertson. Sadly he’s got very little presence, imo.
Let’s hope we can find a bit more authority in the second half, and don’t concede another.
COYGs
I didn’t dare mention Martinez or Leno Wavy, However….
What a chance ☹️☹️
Laca misses an easy one.
Auba did what exactly???
Who’d be a defender?
Strikers earn more and have less accountability 🙂 🙂
Holding was the best player.
Luiz is awfull.
Milton Nilles missed a pass during the entire game!
JM,
I agree that Holding was terrific, yet he’s copping criticism right, left and centre on social media.
Strange.
Holding is probably being criticised because between him and Bellerin, they totally cocked up on the cross which led to a goal.
To be honest, I don’t think anyone had a particularly great game. We were second best in nearly every department.
Jm, are you saying AMN missed every pass or just one pass during the game?
Why on earth did we pay £72 million for that w****r Pepe? He can’t even reach the near post from a corner.
Leno is a liability. Since he’s been back our defence has looked less and less competent with each successive game they obviously have no confidence whatsoever in him.
Can we swap Pepe for Partey…..please?
Good night one and all. 😴
There are horses for courses and on this particular course we backed the wrong horse . I have no problem with playing on the break but the way we continually invited them on fell into their trap . We looked extremely dodgy at the back we couldn’t clear our lines or keep any meaningful possession and it was only when Ceballos replaced Xhaka that we looked in any way dangerous.
We had the occasional opportunity and Lacazette wasted the most blatant but as a learning exercise it’s another step in Arteta’s education he has instilled a plan A but needs a B when we are pushed back like tonight . It was too easy for Klopp his plan was working well . We needed to make him rethink but we didn’t.
72m down the khazi
2 corners and couldn’t get the ball off the ground.
Surely Saka is a better bet
Every pass
After my earlier comment:
Leno, caught two smothered one in second half, so, 1-1 to him. Not a bad display, but I don’t have the same confidence in him that I felt with Martinez. Shame we sold him, a real shame.
Still, we played pretty well, we lost but what would the score have been this time last ear?
Ever onwards. It won’t be quick, it may not be too pretty but so long as it’s eventually successful I, like the rest of us will be very happy. At last we seem to be competing and, in bits playing some quite attractive football.
Long may we progress.
I really thought Pepe would improve massively in his second season.
He’s gone backwards on what I’ve seen so far.
I’m not sure why Leno is being criticised apart from the fact plenty wanted Martinez between the sticks.
One thing I know is that last year or 3 years ago under that pressure, we’d have folded like a deck of cards and been belted.
I do agree by sitting so deep we brought a lot of the pressure on ourselves so I’m not saying Arteta nailed tactics and selections on this occasion, but there is no doubt we have a different kind of mettle in the group now.
We do need another top midfielder or two.
Auba 3 games no goals not good enough, we had our chances but we need to strengthen our midfield, I,m surprised Mane was not sent off
Geoff, it wasn’t a game that really suited Auba in all fairness, but very few fans around social media even mention him-seems it’s all about the defenders who were under pressure for 90% of the game.
A Liverpool player getting sent off?
How dare you hahahaha
Lots to be disappointed about and not helped in any way by a shocker from Pawson. Not that it should be used as an excuse.
Hahah Adam,
Not great.
Arteta got a few things wrong though Weight of numbers says he’s getting most things right.
A few calls really went against us but again, a in recent years we’d have been beaten by 5.
Let’s hope we get 1-2 New players in as we need them.
Oh but how the fuck was Auba manhandled without even a free kick, 5 seconds later Bellerin is carded for the same thing?
Oh that’s right.
Liverpool F fekken C.
Bastards.
Did a foul actually go our way?? Have to say I was gobsmacked that 2 of their players went in the book… but they were never going to get a red, not at Anfield – the new Old Trafford!
Morning happy campers. 😝
New post up now