No Lose Trip To Anfield For Positive Gunners
Aug 23rd, 2019 by 'holic
To be honest, playing Liverpool away on match day three is a no-lose situation for The Arsenal. Few will expect anything other than a home win. We would still be only three points off the top of the Premier League should that happen, but what of the possibility of us going two points clear of the rest?
Unai Emery faces a real tactical test. The chances of us keeping a clean sheet are not great, one would imagine, but does he fight fire with fire and risk a very open contest in hostile territory, or does he go with a back three and hope to nick goals on the break?
Were this last season I would suspect the latter, but for no good reason I suspect the leopard may change his spots on Saturday evening because it is the aforementioned no-lose situation. Should we have the lead in the second half he is likely to revert, as we saw last Saturday.
Bernd Leno is a shoe-in between the posts and the back four who played against Burnley last week are unlikely to be changed. Ahead of them decisions have to be made. It could be that the graduates may be spared the Anfield test. It’s not out of the question that Granit Xhaka could return to partner Lucas Torreira behind Dani Ceballos who should be given freedom to roam.
That presents a tremendous opportunity to go with what could become a destructive front three of Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. That would mean a tough workload perhaps for the two wide men but would give us an opportunity to keep the Scousers excellent full backs in their own half? That would be tough on Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock, and Reiss Nelson, but their time is coming.
We know what Liverpool bring to the table. Apart from the two full-backs we’ll be up against the front three of Mane, Salah, and Firmino, scorer of a hat-trick against us up there last season. Of course it could go horribly pear-shaped.
The ‘holic pound
I am feeling ludicrously optimistic. A point apiece would be a great result for us, but I fancy something else. I cannot ignore odds of 11/2 against us winning, and I am having a smaller top-up on us to win 2-3 at 45/1. Why are you smiling?
The ABW Preview
As ever, our chums at ABW have recorded a video preview of the game. Please watch Danny and Jason airing their views below.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
63 Responses to “No Lose Trip To Anfield For Positive Gunners”
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First appearance of the season.
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Nice one H.
I have no idea what to expect tomorrow but I’m optimistic for the season in general. We have a lot of firepower and although Luiz is capable of a few defensive mistakes his passing ability and variety look to me like exactly what we need and may well help us break the PooPress.
Anyway, I’m actually looking forward to it, especially, as you point out, it is a bit of a free hit
I’m afraid to watch it.
Watching Everton though and cannot believe we got so much dosh out of them for Iwobi, even though by today’s rates it felt like a cheap deal at the time.
Is that the Iwobi who just hit the post, Cynic?
Great to see you GSD. ??
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I see it!
Ars 2 – Liv 1 or Ars 3 – Liv 1
This is my positive vibes.
Good luck!!!
And the 7th comment means finishing the week on 7 points, 2-2?
Here we go.
…and that, gentlemen, is how you write a preview.
Excellent work Barman, keep it up for the rest of the season and all will be well.
Hey, if they all come off as well… Happy Days!
COYG
The 9th comment so 9 points
to predict – 2-0 once more.
CoYGs!!
Thanks for the preview
Guvnor – positive thoughts.
As long as we turn up and
make a fight of it I’m ok.
Leno
AMN, Papa, Luiz, Nacho
Torreira, Guen, Dani
Pepe, Laca, Auba,
Emi, Calum, Kola, Xhaka,
Ozil, Nelson, Willock,
My squad but I don’t think
it will be UE’s. He’ll try and
nick a point.
Nice one, Holic !
Agree that experience should possibly win over youth tomorrow. The difficult one is Xhaka. Our defensive midfielders will need their wits about them against the Liverpool attack and press.
Xhaka and ‘wits about them’ are two ingredients rarely used in the same sentence. His passing range is excellent but his lack of pace and propensity to give the ball away with a sloppy pass are not so helpful.
A free hit for sure, but a win, or even a draw with our recent record up there, would be some statement.
Not behind the sofa tomorrow, but definitely on the edge of the seat.
Ah, I see OM’s team selection endorses my worries. Would someone please inform the manager ? ?
Is that the Iwobi who just hit the post, Cynic?
If he was any good he’d have scored 😉
50 odd millions worth of
ex-Arsenal sitting on the
Everton bench.
Must warm the dead cockles
of Silent Stan’s shrivelled
heart.
Nice one, ‘Holic. I am feeling equally optimistic. But all that firepower on both sides might lead to nothing more than an 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Great preview Guvna. You’ve hit top form early on in the season which bodes well. I hope the team mirror your form. I am overwhelmed by the air of optimism in your preview and the drinks which is encouraging that small kernel of hope in my heart. I’ll have what you’ve all been drinking.
COYG
Cheers H!
Great preview Guvna, Holic at his most optimistic and why not? It’s great to see the mood change among the denizens of this bar. I enjoyed last week although there was much we can improve on and Liverpool at Anfield are a very serious test. I’m not sure the world is ready to deal with the arrogance of a Liverpool championship side, the stuff my Scouser friends have posted is boastful in the extreme .
I think the key is to compete with them as we have at our place over the last two seasons. We have been crushed on our last two trips to Anfield.
Defence picks itself given the injuries although Rob Holding played 90 minutes last night and came through ok. As Trev says we need to get it right in midfield and Xhaka , especially coming back from injury, is not a good idea. I would go with Torreira and Ceballos and push young Joe Willock into the 10 role. Guendouzi is not good defensively and created two assists last season. I’d be absolutely delighted with a point. I suspect we will lose narrowly but give an excellent account of ourselves. But with the Pepe factor who knows??
As for last night Cynic I noticed Theo missed a great chance. He really did flatter to deceive that boy but was so unlucky with injuries. Iwobi looked rather flashy last night and will do some good things at Everton but I agree we got a decent price for him.
Meanwhile over at Headingley ??????
@16, Morning Kernel !
Hear whispers we are to lose Nacho in this window. He has been a great servant to this club and goes with my and I’m sure our very best wishes. That of course means Kolasinac is our left back until Tierney is fit
Adios Nacho ??
I have just seen Anthony Taylor is the referee. Gulp. I hope he makes the correct calls today.
I do wonder what kind of tactics and performance we will see from us. If Pepe is ready then that would be great. As I mentioned I think Luiz may well have the opportunity to play a couple of key passes today. If Ceballos has another good outing that could make a big difference. We need to create chances and then see our forwards take them clinically. Adrian is no Allison so we must test him. And beat him.
Pool are not yet into their stride but they are a great team with so many threats who don’t give much away. We could get overrun if we don’t make sure to stay defensively switched on.
I hope Xhaka does not start. Too slow and ponderous for the press we will face.
This really could go any way.
Great to be back in the bar and see the optimism that Baff notes. Hopefully it will still be there this evening.
No guarantees though. I was hopeful about England before this test.
Midfield is the conundrum, Holic. Sitting watching Burnley get chance after chance last weekend my thoughts then were that both Xhaka (of whom I am most certainly not a fan) and Torreira (good man 🙂 ) would start at Anfield in an attempt to stem the flow.
On reflection, and after a fine 18 holes and a few pints of San Mig this morning, I’d go with TTG’s cocktail of Torreira, Magic Joe and the new Cescie. Emery won’t. He’ll start Xhaka who has a photograph of him in a compromising position. “Good Ebening, why are you taking pictures of me at this time……..?”
Good start for Iwobi last night. I hope he’ll do well and become completely wrapped up in treacle toffee. What a hoot to see the gutless wonder miss the chance of the season so far. Still, he has a new hair tint and the dilemma of which of his two Arsenal-years Ferraris he should drive home in to console him. A talent spurned through lack of heart.
As expected Xhaka plays.
I’m hoping this XI minus
Laca works.
COYGS!!
Looks like a 4-2-3-1 with Xhaka picked. IBtm is right about those pictures! Lacazette is on the bench but at least Pepe starts
COYG!
I want to be positive but
we’ve learned nothing it
seems
Tippy tappy in your own 18 yard box (and often in your own choccy box) can fuck off.
He’s got to score there, Pepe. That’s a piss weak effort after all the hard work was done.
Shades of Feo?
I’m happy.
Liverpool are good, so any team will find it tough. But we have a clear game plan and we are sticking with it, showing fight and working hard.
Cynic, Pepe’s finish was poor but his dribbling is way better than Feo’s. He’ll come good, hopefully tonight
Xhaka marking Salah, really??
After posting it I thought “Nah. Feo’s finishing would have seen him score”. Pepe’s dribbling with Feo’s finishing and we’d have a player.
Unfortunately he looks on admittedly early evidence like he couldn’t finish a bag of chips.
An inevitable goal. We look so vulnerable and despite it only being 1-0 we have not been able to stem the tide at all. And we concede from a set piece. Xhaka and Ceballos have been out of their depth . I will forgive the latter as it’s his first experience of this situation. Our passing strategy at the bank is absolutely bonkers
And yes, I did see Walclott’s miss last night, to save anyone the bother of pointint it out 🙂
Aubameyang, that missed effort apart, has been totally anonymous. We’re not exactly helping him with the way we’re playing, but he’s offered virtually nothing.
Sokratis held Van Dijk’s shirt and in doing that he completely stopped Guendouzi from defending against Matip, giving him a great chance to score, which he took. If he had missed then VAR would quite rightly have given a penalty against Sokratis.
So disappointing after a big effort to keep on level terms.
Aubameyang is primarily a box player and needs the ball in the box . You don’t win the Golden Boot in an average team by luck. You are very harsh on Pepe . Give the lad a chance you indulged Walcott for years
I am very happy with Pepe. Disappointed with Ceballos but I understand how tough today is for him. Not disappointed in Xhaka but only because I expect him to be crap. Willock has looked comfortably our best midfielder.
I like the shape and the plan. And we had a couple of good chances to score. We might still concede a few more. But as the game wears on we might find more spaces too.
We are still in it. And if we had defended a corner properly and without the kind of blatant foul that will concede a penalty every single time this year we were close to a clean sheet.
COYG
At least we didn’t take long to pull someone else’s shirt.
Stupid and unnecessary by Luiz but we built up huge pressure on ourselves by passing around our penalty area for two minutes . Emery’s liking for playing out from the back is naive and highly dangerous
Ceballos is lost, should be subbed asap
Painful watch. We are truly outclassed.
And that’s how you finish, fuck
Now he brings on Torreira. Talk about stable doors. Ceballos was like a rabbit in the headlights but Xhaka should be off too. Emery has not improved this team’s defending one iota and good teams destroy them .
Didn’t expect to win but didn;t expect to be as bad as usual.
Still, should have been a goal or two up before they scored despite creating almost nothing.
I’d take 3-0 at this stage.
Watching this one in Christchurch with loads of Pool fans and I have to admit that nothing has changed really no balls as usual!
Xhaka and Gendouzi in the middle?
We had our chances didn’t take them and we got punished
ATG.
I am not watching the same game as you. Accusing our players of lacking balls after this display is just poor.
Can’t fault the effort, we’re just shite
At least Torreira gets one back and Pool are denied a clean sheet.
Get in Torriera
GSD
Call it typical collapse then if that makes you feel better
ATG
Having watched our guys give it everything and bust their balls I hate to hear them accused of having no balls. So if you left out that lazy piece of “analysis” then I’d feel better.
GSD
Fair enough mate perhaps I used the wrong term there but we looked clueless
No doubt that the better team won. A beating but not a paddlin’, though. You can’t not punish the two Liverpool first half mistakes and expect to win games.
For all his short stature, Torreira is a terrific footballer and we should have started with him and Laca. With a little luck we could have narrowed the margin of loss.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Arthur.
It was individual errors again. So in that sense it was typical. But I did see a lot that encouraged me a lot more than any of our other recent performances there.
UTA
I don’t want to be patronised by Gary Neville. I preferred it when he and his rat-faced brother had to kick the shit out of us because we were so much better
Grating to listen to that wanker Micheal Owen.
I don’t know what Luiz was thinking pulling Salah back in the penalty area. He was also responsible for their third goal. I think he is Chelsea’s agent tasked with pulling us back by such play.
Hello to everyone in the bar and of course to the barman maestro…
Unai I thought got the tactics right . We are just not as well drilled at the moment as Liverpool are. We purposely defended narrowly and forced the Liverpool fullbacks wide, forcing them to send hopeful crosses most of the time during the first half. Liverpool were beginning to lose their patience and one saw a few shots taken from way outside the box. The first goal perhaps was conceded at the most horrible time – just a few minutes before the half time whistle. It was a massive moment in the game and it was perhaps a bit daft of Sokratis to keep holding on to Van Dyke’s shirt instead of concentrating on the incoming corner kick. Still we were well in the game and had seen enough evidence in the two missed chances one by Aubameyang on the open goal and by Pepe one v one against the keeper.
What we got in the second half was exactly the reason why Arsenal fans were afraid of when we signed David Luiz. He is capable of the sublime and the stupid and what we got today was the stupid. The penalty was an absolute gift to Liverpool and so was the third goal with the stupid attempt to win the ball high up against Salah in a 3 vs 3 situation. He let his team down tonight and on the basis of this performance Chambers should be playing the North London derby instead of him.
The great Johan Cryuff had prophetically said Football games are decided by mistakes. We didn’t make Liverpool pay for theirs in the first half and they made us pay for ours in the second half.
But on the whole there was definite improvement from the last two Anfield visits. On hindsight we should have started with Torreira instead of Ceballos for this game. The Uruguayan is our best player without the ball and it was obvious that we would not have too much possession here. But it would have been difficult to drop Ceballos after his performance against Burnley. As I mentioned right at the beginning though, Liverpool are much more better drilled than we are at the moment and we will only get better as the season progresses.
Before the game started it was blindingly obvious that the area where they had the better men was full backs and Virgil Van Dyk. We would be much better once Bellerin is back and especially if Tierney is as good as he is promised to be. Monreal tried gamely but clearly in the games against top sides he has been found wanting. Against top quality sides like Liverpool you need the back four to be absolutely on top of their game. Whilst the full back situation seems more promising because we have players already in the positions what we do not have is a player like Van Dyk. I am hopeful of Holding especially after his performances last season but he is a youngster and not a finished article like Van Dyk.
I would prefer to take the positives from the game though and the improvements. No better game than the North London derby to set things right on the next weekend though. Onwards and Upwards. Cheers all.