Morning all.
Yesterday’s results did Arsenal no favours whatsoever. Totts somehow secured a 1-0 win at Brighton, Man City, Newcastle Utd and Chelsea all won too. If Arsenal want to go back into top spot, a win today is needed. At the other end of the table, Leicester City failed to hang on to a 1-0 lead at Bournemouth and in the end, were beaten.
This is probably the biggest test so far this season for this young Arsenal team. Yes yes, I know, we’ve heard or read that before each match so far this season, but barring the undeserved defeat at Old Trafford, this group of players have passed every test. This one is different though, this one is against a club/team which Arsenal haven’t beaten in the last four attempts and for what it’s worth, I really dislike them.
What should give us a bit of hope of a victory later today is the fact that Liverpool haven’t won a Premier League fixture away from Anfield so far this season. Their last League match on the road ended 0-0 against Everton but largely thanks to Pickford.
Klopp could select Ibrahima Konate for the first time this season but Andy Robertson, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all injured.
Mo Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe are the only two players definitely ruled out. Fingers crossed it stayed that way after yesterday’s training session.
History tells us that Liverpool have had the upper hand in this fixture for a number of years now but history means little in an ever changing footballing world. Arsenal are different this season both in personnel and performance. The Emirates isn’t the same either as Klopp and his men will find out this afternoon.
The one thing pundits are saying and journalists are writing is that Liverpool don’t start games well, unlike Arsenal who’ve come out of the blocks with purpose. Brighton were 2-0 up within 20 minutes last weekend and that was at Anfield so we know we’ll get chances. If we can take them, we can win. Defensively, Liverpool haven’t discovered the kind of form shown in previous seasons with Alexander-Arnold and van Dijk receiving the most criticism. Their big name summer signing Nunez is yet to find his feet and I hope he never does, not in England anyway.
Whilst history between these two clubs is irrelevant, Klopp will have his players remembering that the Emirates isn’t a place to be feared, Arsenal aren’t a club to be feared either because his team have been there and done it so many times before but deep down, unless he’s been asleep for the last two months, he’ll know this will be a tough test for his players. Probably the toughest they’ve faced this season because this isn’t a toothless, spineless and disjointed Arsenal team of the past. This is an Arsenal team which is organised, strong and dangerous in every department playing at home in a stadium full of positivity.
Not for one minute am I suggesting this game will be easy for Arsenal because it won’t be, Liverpool are too good for that but I just think it will be far from the walk in the park Liverpool have enjoyed in recent years.
I’m looking forward to it…
This has become a bit of a jinx game for Arsenal in recent years, someone said on a podcast that we haven5 scored a League goal against them in the last 6 EPL matches, I can’t ever recall that happening before, even in their pomp in th3 late 70’s and 80’s we tended to stuff them at Highbury, so it’s a mental issue I guess?
Conte took a cheap shot at Arteta last season after we lost at the Slum and Klopp has that irritating ‘let me pat you gently on the head sonny’ attitude to Arteta, condescending I call it, I mean he doesn’t openly tap up anyone else’s players does he?
So yeah, this afternoon is a mental test as much as a football test.
Can we stop that little shit Jotta from scoring a goal or two from nothing, can we stop old ‘million dollar railings’ Firmino from nicking a goal he doesn’t deserve, how can we stop Salah – and how can we be as efficient as those damned mickey mousers often are against us.
Yeah, Arteta really hasto show that he’s no longer Klopp’s bitch and our team has to show that they are weak between the ears when facing th3 bullshit team.
COYG
aren’t weak between the ears.
What’s with the hate for Liverpool? Teams like arsenal and Liverpool should reserve their hate for the likes of the sportswashing human rights violating teams of scum.
If it wasn’t for Liverpool these last few years city would have absolutely cleaned up. They pretty much did anyway.
If it wasn’t for Arsenals fast start to the season city would be top and unlikely to lose that position for the rest of the season.
Pool have been a bgey team for Arsenal . Its time to put the jinx to rest.
But MA must be aware that passing all over the place is likely to lead to a Pool
breakout.
Until he shoots on sight,the jinx may stay
Are you going Kev?
Good day Rico and all.
History may be relevant to the media hacks and, to an extent, the fans but not necessarily to our players.
Many of them are too young to have developed a sense of awe at the thought of playing Liverpool, just as they showed no fear against any of the teams they have faced this season, Man U included.
Go out there, have the confidence to play their own game, get stuck in when necessary and write their own history.
Afternoon Cicero. My last comment disappeared into a big hole somewhere but basically, I agree.
Wolf, I think we’ve been taking shots on sight a bit more of late but I get what you mean.
For anyone who hasn’t seen it. 😂
https://twitter.com/MOTSI_MABUSE/status/1579018670197514240?s=20&t=s6BiLzQZhJIyw6mdtHdwWw
No Rico, I could have done but I feel a bit cream crackered today as I finished late this morning.
Thanks for that Rico, I’ve avoided watching Tony dancing as I don’t want nightmares, but he’s doing it for a good cause. 😀
Is he dancing for charity then Kev? Didn’t know that. He’s getting better though. Lol
Team news – Zinchenko & Fabinho both drop out
Arsenal v Liverpool (16:30 BST)
Mikel Arteta is forced into making one change to the Arsenal team that beat Tottenham 3-1 in last Saturday’s north London derby.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has dropped out of the matchday 18 entirely, with Japan’s Takehiro Tomiyasu coming in at left-back.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Xhaka, Martinelli, Jesus.
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Nketiah, Holding, Soares, Vieira, Sambi Lokonga, Nelson, Marquinhos.
Liverpool make three changes from their 3-3 draw at home to Brighton last Saturday.
Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez all come into the side, with Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Fabio Carvalho dropping out.
It means Jurgen Klopp’s side are likely to move away from their traditional 4-3-3, with a 4-2-3-1 looking likely.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Jota, Diaz, Nunez.
Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Fabinh, Konate, Milner, Firmino, Elliott, Carvalho, Phillips.
Dhdhd :- Some of us have been around a lot longer than others and know Liverpool and their fans of old. The disgust has nothing to do with recent years it’s ingrained in history and the antics of tapping up by the current incumbents has done little to alleviate the feelings.
Personally there are a lot of things about sport that I don’t care for in this sanitised world, Abu Dhabi , Qatar , Russia have all flouted laws to succeed with money but the scouse dislike for me has been bourne from match going personal experience since the 60’s.
Tomi in at left back and they are unchanged from their Rangers game , we need to hit them early and put them on the back foot. If we try to creep into the game and let them grow into it , things will become much harder.
If Tierney is fit enough for the bench, why has Arteta chosen to play a right back at left back? Either Tierney is not fit enough to start the game or Arteta no longer trusts him. A January exit?
Afternoon, let’s hope it’s a good one. Considering our start, won’t be over disappointed with a first draw. Need to score though as read six Prem games without a goal against Pool?
Not risking left back Tierney twice in a week? Is Tomi as good with his left foot.
Cicero at 3:53, Tommy is better defensively even at LB than Tierney. He can always bring in Tierney if he’s chasing the game. Klop, given the attack heavy lineup he has selected for the game, Arteta had to counter that. Our Manager is evolving.
You have said it several times, Rico, that Gabriel 6 is prune to mistakes. That was one right there. Totally out of position. He gifted them that goal.
our passing out from tge back is terrible and Odegaard cant trap a landmine
Hey guys (and gals) we are 2 – 1 up. Let’s not get all negative. 😉
He does have the odd error in him Obi. Lucky with the penalty not given.
Everything but the goal… there’s a song there….
Please bury this penalty….
Not sure my heart can take much more of this!
Mine neither…
Just the five goals so far
Three goals, three points, top of the league, just another day at the office. 😉
If Saka had missed, I dread to think. I thought Jesus would take.
Let’s enjoy tonight!
Great result, tense 96 minutes.
Great win. Much tension.
Arteta got it right with Tommy replacing Tierney.
Yes Obi, you are also right, Arteta is evolving, Klopp didn’t know what to do in the end, a bit like Conte last week, some of Klopp’s substitutions were mystifying?
Kev, when he made the substitutions I was he’s going for the draw. I said to myself, “dam” these “Arsenal boys” are going to ran them ragged. They got really lucky, it could’ve been 5-1.
Morning Rico and all
What a great win, so Wrighty claims it was not a penalty, but the way I see it if you try to kick the ball from behind the player and miss and kick the player it’s a penalty
Morning Geoff, all.
New post up now