Is Coquelin fit for the game?

Anyways I already said that I'll be happy to come away with a draw but dare I say it, I'm actually slightly confident of a win...especially if you guys play a back 3.

Mustafi will be back and Maitland-Niles is a good one on one defender.

We will win 3-1

comment by Firmino Can Karius {Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 4 minutes ago
Is Coquelin fit for the game?

Anyways I already said that I'll be happy to come away with a draw but dare I say it, I'm actually slightly confident of a win...especially if you guys play a back 3.
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Don't think Coquelin will be fit. He got cramp last night which pretty shows his level of fitness at the moment. Maybe available for the bench.

Fully agree with you over Kolasinac. He has to start against Liverpool.

Expect Mustafi and Koscielny as our CB's in a back 4.

We have to be aggressive all over the pitch and close them down upfront.

All depends on which Arsenal turn up on that day. If we make silly mistakes like we did against United we havent got a chance.

Is Mustafi back fit? Great news. Though i'm not sure Wenger will drop Monreal. Might be a case of Maitland-Niles dropping down for Monreal, which isn't such a bad thing.

Think this will be a good game on the eye. My only concern is Klopp rotating again. He did the same against Chelsea and Everton and with a busy Xmas period will he do the same for this game? The fab 4 have hardly played with each other.

Giroud normally plays well against us but could be out injured?

Giroud has done his hammy. He'll be out until Jan.

A back 3 of Kos - Mustafi - Monreal is not bad actually in terms of defensive stability. Any other combination is not worth it and I definitely don't want to see Mert anywhere near the pitch.
Same with Mustafi, he only suit a back 3 with him in the middle. I wouldnt trust him in a back 4.
So that is the dilemma Wenger faces.
I personally would go with a back 4 of Bellerin - Kos - Monreal and either AMN or Kolasinac

I don’t think Kolasinac has been dropped. More being protected during a hectic Christmas period he isn’t used to. With Mustafi back I can see us going with

Cech
Bellerin Mustafi Kos Nacho
Jack Xhaka
Iwobi Ozil Alexis
Lacazette

To be honest I think we will get smashed. And for all the time we’ve been begging to ditch a back 3, I think this is the type of fixture we should actually start with one. We may as well have an extra defender on the pitch and one less attacker. It’s better than having no extra defender and playing Iwobi who may aswell not be there.

Every time Liverpool come to the Emirates, even back when they were a mid table team under Rodgers, I say I will take a point and happily move on. Arsenal is probably their favorite match of the season. We are set up just how they want us to be. Eventually they are gonna give us the humiliation at the Emirates they have been threatening for years, let’s just hope it’s not this Friday

Pool play very well against a back 3 and have done under klopp

Giroud is a huge loss. Always scores against pool and would give their defense a torrid time.

Against pool attackers, I think we will be exposed too oftern

comment by 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (U18355)
posted 1 minute ago
I don’t think Kolasinac has been dropped. More being protected during a hectic Christmas period he isn’t used to. With Mustafi back I can see us going with

Cech
Bellerin Mustafi Kos Nacho
Jack Xhaka
Iwobi Ozil Alexis
Lacazette

To be honest I think we will get smashed. And for all the time we’ve been begging to ditch a back 3, I think this is the type of fixture we should actually start with one. We may as well have an extra defender on the pitch and one less attacker. It’s better than having no extra defender and playing Iwobi who may aswell not be there.
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This is a pretty good shout, Kolasinac may as well come in for Iwobi as he offers more defensively and offensively. Iwobi is a tidy footballer but he doesn't have any cutting edge to him.

Aye aye, Liverpool is the only team i dread tbh. When they at it they can rip us into shreds. I don't get the feeling when facing Chelsea or United, even though you know they will eventually win.

These are kind of games we miss Cazorla. Such a massive loss to us.

Sit deep and play on the counter, they don't like those teams very much. Don't care that we're at home. Sadly Wenger will play into their hands and leave us wide open.

Can't believe we're stuck with Xhaka, El neny and Coquelin. Hopefully the rumours about N'zonzi (filmed arriving at Gatwick last night) is true. Decent stop gap option.

Why would N’Zonzi join us when Sevilla are still in the CL?

Sevilla want rid. Apparently. Plus i think N'Zonzi is having settling issues. Family in still in UK.

Most probably BS.

Liverpool's intensity is what we struggle to deal with. It was the same with Klopp's Dortmund. Although, Liverpool were intense even before he took charge. Couple of times we were able to match Dortmund's intensity. We need to at least get close to Liverpool's intensity on Friday. I'm usually confident at home to anyone though, despite out shortfalls.

comment by Serial WUManiser™© - Seebs is dead.... (U1410)
posted 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
Giroud has done his hammy. He'll be out until Jan.
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Good news for us, he likes a goal v us and is the type of striker we struggle with.

We are much more suited to playing v a team that plays football and takes the game to us, which you would fully expect Arsenal to do at home.

But Arsenal have lots of dangerous players that can hurt us if they're on it on the day.

Can see goals for both sides in a Christmas Cracker (couldn't resist!)

How do you expect Liverpool to line up?

Mignolet
Gomez Lovren Klavan Robertson/Milner
Wijnaldum Henderson Coutinho
Salah Firmino Mane

Or will Klopp stick Oxlade-Chamberlain in there knowing he'll want to impress at his old club?

OC may be on the bench.

I expect Moreno to feature ahead of Robertson.

Salah 'may' be rested and Lallana brought in instead.

You just never know with Klopp & his rotation system over the next 8 days.

Be sure they will play with their best team.

Can't play their first choice XI in 4 games over 8 days.

Pool don't need to play their first choice XI. Just field Mané and watch our defense fall to pieces.