Indeed, and just bear in mind that if you give a bad player time, he can play. If you give a good player time, he can kill you.

...you shall not pass?

Volante wrote:

Real Madrid have always had some of the very best players in the world, and they've always been at their best as a club playing counter attacking football.

What's exactly your point? As the above bears no relevance to the point I made.

Klaus wrote:

It's always tough meeting Liverpool because they play with 11 men. Other teams play with 10 men and a goalkeeper.

Ah goalkeepers … the fairer sex.

I think there are three OMIT posters who will let us down this year—the cause, the fight, everything—and I have written them down already in three envelopes. Make sure you are not in one of the envelopes, Burnsy.

Well Klaus, all I'll ever do is all I've ever done in any job, and that's promise to fight for my life for the people of the forum.

Klaus wrote:

I think there are three OMIT posters who will let us down this year—the cause, the fight, everything—and I have written them down already in three envelopes. Make sure you are not in one of the envelopes, Burnsy.

But who can we trust then?

You can only trust yourselves. Also, trust the fans of Arsenal football club, because they are the best fans in the world. And lastly, trust your families.

It might sound like a cliché, but I know what I'm talking about. I grew up not with a silver spoon but with a silver shovel.

Anyhoo, back to the game. I think we will draw, or possibly lose. 2-2 or a 3-2 loss, with Suarez and Sturridge causing us too many problems on the counter. It all depends on how our attack fires.

Wonder if we might mess around and use Kos as a libero with just Santiago and Ozil behind Giroud. That would simultaneously solve the dilemmas of dealing with two good 1 v 1 strikers and not having any great option for right wing. We won't need to double up on the wings defensively either since they won't double up offensively. I'd feel good about that defensively but that might invite too much pressure in our own half. I'm not sure I'd go that route but it's something to think about at least.

Asterix wrote:

Anyhoo, back to the game. I think we will draw, or possibly lose. 2-2 or a 3-2 loss, with Suarez and Sturridge causing us too many problems on the counter. It all depends on how our attack fires.

Was just going to optimistically say a 3-2 win to us, but on balance I sort of agree. This seems like an open encounter. Two slightly ropy midfields, plenty of creativity and a pressure cooker atmosphere. Should be a busy day if there's an early goal.

If Suarez plays like last weekend we're probably fucked. Is the theory that Koscielny could neutralise him remotely valid? No idea. Probably just as likely get sent off.

@DKF I'd say there's a snowball's chance in hell of that tactical variation happening for this match, has Wenger ever done such a thing?

I also think this game is a good use case for Monreal since he won't be going up against a speedy, tricky winger and he's more of a threat in the final third.

Will always be Gibbs and we know it.

This is a terribly important game for us, first to prove that our start isn't a false dawn, and secondly to make a huge statement in the title race. We definitely need to win to stop the little rot as well against a very in form Liverpool.

Clrnc wrote:

Will always be Gibbs and we know it.

This is a terribly important game for us, first to prove that our start isn't a false dawn, and secondly to make a huge statement in the title race. We definitely need to win to stop the little rot as well against a very in form Liverpool.

"Very in form" might be a stretch. Two weeks ago they couldn't break a ten man Newcastle.

I love reading this thread. Great work Klaus.

Think some of you are grossly over estimating Liverpool.

And under estimating Arsenal? I said previously in the thread too, I feel guilty about it myself. Up to the team to win the fans' confidence back. I hope the atmosphere is like it was for Spurs'. The crowd can give a huge lift.

For me it's not a case of overestimating underestimating, it's just recognising that Suarez and Sturridge are a form strikeforce and that we've still got a propensity to gift goals.
Adding that to the fact that we've been less fluid in attack in our last three games then I do think that this is going to be tight and without room for dumb mistakes at either end.