Arsenal vs Liverpool

The run up to this game reminds me of the 2013 home game when Liverpool’s “SAS" were meant to come over the Emirates and give us a good pasting yet we manage to comfortably win. This time round it’s the “Fab Four" and you have to say this side is probably as good, if not better, than the squad that almost won the league. Well the attacking side of it anyway.

Arsenal have big issues pretty much everywhere on the pitch. Do we go with a back 3 or a back 4? Do we continue to deploy Xhaka in the deep lying midfielder role and shoot ourselves in the foot? Do we start with the off form Sanchez?

I’m only asking these questions rhetorically, because we all know Wenger will put out the exact same side that just about scrapped a win vs Newcastle. Ozil & Sanchez are class, and even though Sanchez is off form he is a certain to start. Lacazette will start, and with Giroud’s injury will probably last longer than his usual 70mins. Kolasinac and Walcott starting last night and this would most probably mean both Iwobi and Maitland-Niles will start vs Liverpool. I have big grievances on both choices.

Firstly, even though Maitland-Niles had a good couple of games and looks promising for the future, this isn’t a relegation side he’s facing. The Liverpool attack is very capable of embarrassing the young man and denting his confidence. Big games need big game players, and that for me is Kolasinac. I find the decision to drop out Kolasinac at this stage utterly bemusing, but then again Wenger is making a habit of making illogical decisions.

Secondly Iwobi. Sorry I don’t see what the fuss is about. He’s rank mediocre, and I’m being generous. Some regular contributors on Ja606 say he had a good start but faded, but whenever I’ve seen him he’s been nothing more than Championship level. I would much rather start Walcott, who even though is probably on his last few weeks at Arsenal still offers a lot more than Iwobi and Welbeck, put together.

I’ll be honest, I’ll be delighted with a draw, even playing at home. Defensively we’re a joke and if an ordinary attacking side like Manchester United can easily tear us apart then I fear what Liverpool can do. Our only hope is that they have a similar approach as to the Tottenham game, and our attackers are on 100%.