Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, in their first big-six clash since mid-August.
Unai Emery had the most impossible of starts to life with Arsenal, facing Manchester City and Chelsea in his opening two games. As a result, supporters were mostly understanding when the team ended up on the receiving end of two defeats.
However, at this stage, the head coach has had a couple of months to sort things out. With a run of games against some of the smaller Premier League sides, Emery has shown he knows how to set his teams up to win matches. Now it’s just about doing the same in one of the big games.
Let’s have a look at how we expect Arsenal to line up against Liverpool this weekend.
Goalkeeper and Defence
Bernd Leno might’ve conceded a couple of goals against Crystal Palace last weekend, but both were penalties. In general, he’s doing well, and Petr Cech’s appearance in the Blackpool game in midweek implies the German will continue his run in the Premier League.
Hector Bellerin will be assessed ahead of the game, but hopefully, he’ll be fit to play. If he ends up missing out then Stephan Lichtsteiner will have to replace him, but the Swiss international playing 90 minutes on Wednesday implies Emery is hoping that won’t be the case.
At centre-back, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Rob Holding will likely start together. Laurent Koscielny still isn’t back, nor is Konstantinos Mavropanos. Although Shkodran Mustafi has been favoured for the big games in the past, the fact he wasn’t rested for Arsenal’s clash with Blackpool suggests he’ll miss out on this occasion.
Sokratis is also being assessed after picking up a knock though, so we’ll have to wait and see.
At left-back, Sead Kolasinac is likely to start, after he returned to full training earlier this week. However, you guessed it, he’s still being assessed after his hamstring injury, as is Nacho Monreal.
Click ‘Next’ for Midfield, Forwards and our Full Predicted Starting XI
Midfield
Lucas Torreira is certain to start, as Arsenal never function quite as well without him. Alongside the Uruguayan, Granit Xhaka continues to prove the best option, despite the naysayers.
Matteo Guendouzi, for all the praise he’s rightly earned this season, still hasn’t found the right balance alongside Torreira. More importantly, though, he’s now suspended after his red card in midweek.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is back, but he hasn’t played a game in the centre since returning, so it’d be throwing him in the deep end to do so against Liverpool.
In front of Xhaka and Torreira, Özil will start, hoping to replicate his goal in this fixture last season. His last Premier League start at the Emirates was breathtaking, but he needs to rediscover that magic after an average performance at Selhurst Park.
Click ‘Next’ for Forwards and our Full Predicted Starting XI
Forwards
Alexandre Lacazette had a couple of off games last week, but he’s still been one of Arsenal’s main men so far this season. Lacazette’s only started one game against Liverpool in his career so far, and he set up Özil’s goal during that match with a clever backheel.
Emery seems more and more reluctant to leave Lacazette or Aubameyang out, so we expect the Gabonese striker to start as well, on the left. Alex Iwobi will likely continue his run in the team on the right.
It’s difficult for Emery because Aubameyang is better at centre-forward, either on his own or as a strike partner to Lacazette. Whilst Iwobi is much better playing on the left.
The problem is that no one is particularly good on the right, except Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Bringing Mkhitaryan into the team means dropping one of the above three (or Özil), so it’s not an easy call. After Mkhitaryan started against Blackpool he isn’t likely to start against Liverpool too.
Click ‘Next’ for our full predicted starting XI
Full Predicted Starting XI
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Arsenal vs Liverpool Betting Tips
Arsenal and Liverpool have both scored at least one goals in eight of the last 10 matches between the two sides. Bet on both teams to score with 138.com at 4/9.
There have been at least four goals in clashes between Arsenal and Liverpool on each of the last five occasions. Bet on over 3.5 goals with 138.com at 5/4.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the Premier League’s top scorer, and he scored in his last appearance against Liverpool with Borussia Dortmund. Bet on Aubameyang to score first with 138.com at 5/1.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (10/1 with 138).