y va marquer wrote:

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.

I definitely worry about Suarez and Sturridge, two quality strikers in great form and very different challenges from each.

I'm less worried about our fluidity in attack. I think we've been boxed out recently and Liverpool will be less negative than Chelsea/Palace and they won't press like Dortmund. Should be a pretty open game.

Rohit wrote:

Ozil needs to prove his worth too. He has been good but hasn't hit top gear yet. I don't care much about how well he does or how involved he is against the lesser teams. We have enough and more to beat those teams. We needed a big match player and I am hoping we have one in Ozil. He was sick against Dortmund, hope he has a big game on Saturday because if he is at his best, we will win.

Definitely. I love Ozil and think he's a fantastic player that we're lucky to have. But if I was asked which player is more likely to make the difference on Saturday, I'd definitely say Suarez.

Remembering some of the performances he has put in for Germany, Ozil hasn't hit top gear yet. He's very unselfish so he drifts out wide so that Wilshere can go through the middle, but I hope Wenger lays down the challenge of dominating Saturday's game in Suarez-like fashion. Look to play the odds and be ambitious even if he turns over possession a few times. Their defence is very ropey. Toure, Sakho, Skrtel....Ozil should be fancying his chances of running past that shit.

Ozil has been quite underwhelming for me. He seems like passenger most of the time and i'm starting to have doubts about the strength of his character. Does he have what it takes to deliver when it truly matters? Time will tell but I've got a feeling he won't show up in the big games. Supremely gifted footballer though, no doubt about that.

YounGunner wrote:

Ozil has been quite underwhelming for me. He seems like passenger most of the time and i'm starting to have doubts about the strength of his character. Does he have what it takes to deliver when it truly matters? Time will tell.

Passenger certainly not. Without trying to be patronising you don't understand his game if you feel he's often a passenger. What I do feel at times though is that he should understand that he's the best player on the pitch and look to grab the headlines himself even if it's not his natural game. He's used to being the 2nd best player and provider to Ronaldo but he has the ability to be the main man.

qs! wrote:

y va marquer wrote:

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.

I definitely worry about Suarez and Sturridge, two quality strikers in great form and very different challenges from each.

I'm less worried about our fluidity in attack. I think we've been boxed out recently and Liverpool will be less negative than Chelsea/Palace and they won't press like Dortmund. Should be a pretty open game.

They (Liverpool) have probably been the most negative top 8 side in the league this season. Forget Rodgers spouting nonsense about trying to play the game the way it should be played (open, pro active, attacking football).

Very much expect them get men behind the ball and try to hit us on the break with their pacey forwards (Moses, Sturridge, Suarez).

Klaus wrote:

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.

Favourite.

Anyone else like 3-5-2 (in the Liverpool
sense) as a formation? Man for man we could match Liverpool anyway.

------------------Szczesny------------------

----------Kos-----Mert-----Verm-----------

Sagna-----------------------------------Gibbs

--------Ramsey--Arteta--Wilshere----------

----------------Ozil-------Giroud----------------

Not a fan of that system, but if we were to play it I would have Koscielny as the one in the middle with Sagna as the RCB.

We need monster wingbacks to make it work. Which begs the question, why the fuck are we scared of Liverpool?

We aren't.

Just reading the scouting report on Arsenal.com and it's mentioned that Liverpool haven't kept a single clean sheet since Suarez's return and a switch to 3-5-2.

Also points out that Johnson and Cissokho can get overloaded if the opposition's full backs are pushed forward.
Sagna and Gibbs/Monreal could give them some trouble then, wonder if Rodgers will stick with that formation against us?

He will. They will sit back though and hope that Sagna and Gibbs leave gaps at the back. We need to use the ball well, we can't give it away at the edge of their box poorly with everyone out of their position.

Against WBA Rodgers got rid of the player in behind Suarez-Sturridge and went with a 1-2 in midfield, Henderson-Gerrard ahead of Lucas. Not dissimilar to Juve's shape.

Rohit wrote:

He will. They will sit back though and hope that Sagna and Gibbs leave gaps at the back. We need to use the ball well, we can't give it away at the edge of their box poorly with everyone out of their position.

Giroud in particular is guilty of ceding possession on the edge of the box.
Needs to sharpen up for Saturday.

Patters wrote:

Anyone else like 3-5-2 (in the Liverpool
sense) as a formation? Man for man we could match Liverpool anyway.

------------------Szczesny------------------

----------Kos-----Mert-----Verm-----------

Sagna-----------------------------------Gibbs

--------Ramsey--Arteta--Wilshere----------

----------------Ozil-------Giroud----------------

It makes sense for us to try and play a system like this as we would keep a man spare at the back to make sure we aren't 2v2 when the fullbacks are up. Plus we play with zero width at the moment so any advantage we would have down the wings against a 3-5-2 is negated.

We will just go with the compact dense mid again for saturday though, Wenger never changes.

Why would it make sense for us to try a formation that's new to the players in what many see as a must win game?

Our league form in the last 20 games isn't exactly crying out for a formation change.

otfgoon wrote:

Our league form in the last 20 games isn't exactly crying out for a formation change.

There are advantages to each system. liverpool's 3-5-2 is strong in the middle but weak down the side, bearing in mind we play narrow as fuck then I think a switch up would help.

We need to play Gnabry against these lot at least, he can pace it on the right hand side and make sure their left wingback isn't getting up the pitch.

Decent preview from Michael Cox focusing on the Kos/Mert vs Suarez/Sturridge battle.

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/2106

He refers to the strengths and weaknesses of Pool's 3-5-2 as well and while I think there's a few points about that which should worry us - Gibbs still being a bit prone to getting caught out, for example - I just can't see Wenger changing it up tactically, it's not what he does when we are playing consistently and well.