Welcome back, friends. Kickoff: 12:30 PM Eastern, 5:30 PM UK Venue: Anfield, Liverpool US TV: NBC Here's the test. Are we for real? Arsenal are on a 10-match unbeaten run, but with all due respect to Leicester and literally only Leicester, the slate of opponents throughout that run hasn't exactly been full of juggernauts. That changes on Saturday. Liverpool sit in a deceptive 4th in the league, and are averaging nearly 3 goals per match in the league thus far. Their loss to West Ham in the last match before the international break was their first defeat of the season in all competitions - their unbeaten run prior to that stretched 25 games, all the way back to their Champions League quarterfinal defeat at the Baby Bernabeu in Madrid last April. We're not exactly headed to Craven Cottage. But despite that, Arsenal have a decent record against Liverpool since the Covid restart - a league win in July 2020, a win on penalties in the Community Shield a month later, and a penalty win in the League Cup two months after that. We won't talk about Liverpool's league double last season. Liverpool's depth is being tested right now as they're in a bit of an injury crisis - Firmino, Keita, and Joe Gomez will all miss out, with Robertson labeled as 50-50 and Henderson "hopeful." Arsenal will have Thomas Partey back in the squad and Aubameyang seems to be alright now. Kolasinac was on the receiving end of an awful tackle against Finland, and presumably will be out for a while. Xhaka, who is apparently made of adamantium, is already back running and hopes to be fully training within 6 weeks. Wild. A loss could drop us as far as 7th and a draw would keep us 5th, while a win would take Arsenal into the Champions League places for the first time since Matchday 4 of last season. Here's to that outcome. COYG
Seems like Auba just came back early from Gabon, and isn't back early due to injury. Liverpools injury list seems long, but I will be waiting til match day before I assume any of them are out. Klopp has said that Mane will play, Robertson and Henderson sound likely, Milner and Keitat and Jones will definitely miss. Sounds like we got through the international break unscathed, mind you I was worried a few times when Saka slipped on that shit pitch and got up a bit gingerly.
Great opening post, and you had me at this: Anyone else (of a certain age) find their mind going immediately to this song, like mine did?... I suppose there is a tiny tiny little chance that the "show that never ends" could come true, but frankly who amongst us is really betting on that? Still, at KO, for just about every match I watch for my teams, I've always got optimism. In this case, dreaming of a draw is about as far as I'll allow myself to go towards insanity.
Arteta held a presser today. Haven't found video but here's a transcript: https://www.arsenal.com/news/mikel-arteta-press-conference-liverpool-aubameyang-injury I didn't really read much of it except for I focused on team news stuff such as:
I am a potato who posted what I want out of this game in the Watford thread, so ill just say 3-2 to the Arsenal, Laca + Auba + ESR to score.
I hope we stay solid and not try to play too expansive stay compact, deeper fullbacks to constrict the overload and counter I would be happy with a 1-1 as we usually get smashed
Partey & Auba in the XI, presumably fit. Could be a plus. As long as they play close to their potential. COYG!!!
12' 0-0 Arsenal yet to have any sustained possession. Needs to find a way to challenge Liverpool in the midfield.
Tomiyasu got Mane so shook he's just falling to the ground from the imaginary Kop Stand Rifleman's shots. Pathetic
Better possession and play by us in the last 5 mins Edit: as soon as I write that, they do a super dangerous counter with Salah poised for magic. Gabriel breaks it up. I like how quick he is to make his defensive actions in the box.
Not loving the combination of Partey and Sambi in midfield. They both need to be quicker on the ball.
Methinks the pairing would be better against an opponent where Arsenal could be more in the front foot.