Reckon this game will be a lot of fun, end to end.

need to improve our counter attacks. at the very least i don't this being a route like last season

Liverpool and City away are the two games during a season I'm not looking forward to, but a point would be great. Pépé in for Nelson, maybe Chambers back as well.

I'm tipping an honourable away draw in this top of the table clash!

I expect 3-1 loss but if Emery takes a risk and starts Pepe (or even Kola for that matter) anything could happen.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Liverpool and City away are the two games during a season I'm not looking forward to, but a point would be great. Pépé in for Nelson, maybe Chambers back as well.

We drew 7 games and lost 10 last season. Isn’t it early to have specific games we are particularly worried about? This team was able to deflate us any given weekend regardless of type of opponent

Claudius wrote:
Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Liverpool and City away are the two games during a season I'm not looking forward to, but a point would be great. Pépé in for Nelson, maybe Chambers back as well.

We drew 7 games and lost 10 last season. Isn’t it early to have specific games we are particularly worried about? This team was able to deflate us any given weekend regardless of type of opponent

It's quite logical, actually. Despite us being able to lose against anyone, the chance of a loss increases as the level of opposition does the same. This is why bookmakers gave higher odds on us to beat Liverpool away than Palace at home last season, instead of the same odds just because we were capable of losing to both teams. Only Liverpool and City away are opponents on such a level that I don't have much faith in Arsenal to do something there.

banduan wrote:

I expect 3-1 loss but if Emery takes a risk and starts Pepe (or even Kola for that matter) anything could happen.

Same for me but voted "win" as i'm abandoning logic and hoping for a Pépé start and a 5-6 away win.
Their defence has looked ropey all pre-season and hasn't looked as solid as last year in their last 3 games.
I think the Champions League victory has made them complacent and feel, if we play Luiz who can beat the press and drop Xhaka who is a liability when pressed, we can outscore them.

Xhaka receiving this ball is 100% giving it straight back to them.

I just want to see a brave approach from Emery.

Leno
AMN Sokratis Luiz Monreal
Torreira Xhaka Ceballos
Pepe Laca Auba

We're at Anfield so the fullbacks aren't getting far. Otherwise, counter with the front 3.

Definitely think its time to introduce someone like Torriera into the lineup. I might go with Willock or Reiss Nelson out wide if we're looking to do something like the above. Just don't know if starting Pepe pans out well if he's unfamiliar with the intensity.

Wilson wrote:

...
We're at Anfield so the fullbacks aren't getting far. Otherwise, counter with the front 3.

I would like him to continue with his favourite 4-2-3-1 formation.
Apart from being susceptible to the press, Xhaka is useless at covering the FB where Liverpool are strongest with the dual threat of Salah and TAA. For this reason Willock is the best option as they are not getting a free run on Monreal with him on their case.

Leno
AMN - Sokratis - Luiz - Monreal
Torreira - Willock
Pepe - Ceballos - Auba
Laca

I’ve long advocated for Aubameyang wide with Lacazette up top as I think it bring the most goals overall, but in this game I reckon there’s a good tactical argument for Auba wide to try and pin back Alexander-Arnold. Same with Pepe on the other side, might be early but I think we need to try and nullify their fullbacks.

I’d go Guendouzi, Willock and Ceballos in midfield. It’s a gamble but I’d rather gamble and be positive. Willock deserves his place after his recent performances, Guendouzi has also shown some good signs, and we need Ceballos in there to try and get his foot on the ball and control the game. We’ve missed the influence of such a player. If that three have a good game we’ll control midfield, and if Pepe and Auba can have an impact on Robertson/Alexander-Arnold then we’re in with a shout.

Wilson wrote:

Leno
AMN Sokratis Luiz Monreal
Torreira Xhaka Ceballos
Pepe Laca Auba

We're at Anfield so the fullbacks aren't getting far. Otherwise, counter with the front 3.

Thats the team I'd go for. Its an awful pity Tierney isn't fit, its games like this I think we need him most.

I hope we sit and counter.

I'd pull Willock and Nelson out of the team to protect them a bit.

I don't want Xhaka in there - he's far too ponderous on the ball to cope with the Liverpool press.

Would rather Guendouzi started instead of Willock - Ceballos can be the most attacking midfielder. Given that we're playing our reserve fullbacks and our offensively minded wingers provide limited support, we'll need all the energy we can get in midfield to cover.

I don't think we should be starting anyone who can't finish the game so I'm not sure Torreira is ready to start here.

I reckon same team as Burnley with Pepe in for Nelson.

Hopefully we get the first goal as would be good to see our players have the opportunity to exploit them on the counter.

Mirth wrote:

I don't want Xhaka in there - he's far too ponderous on the ball to cope with the Liverpool press.

He coped pretty well with it when we drew 1-1 at the Emirates, got MOTM even if I recall correctly. Still would agree that he can't play this one as he's not fit or in form, Guendouzi Torreira Ceballos is the way to go.

Don't trust our current fullbacks to be able to cope with Salah/Mane. Wouldn't mind seeing a back 5 to compensate by adding Chambers.. then swap Torreira for Wilock in midfield with Laca and Aubamayang upfornt.

I wouldn't let Chambers anywhere near this game. Exactly the type of wingers that will tear him apart.

I'm hopeful he'll be a good CB for us this year, I just think we need to pick our battles with him.

Don't play a back 5. Liverpool is weak when they are pressing. We need the midfield and forward numbers to have options to pass to and not invite pressure.

Doc wrote:

Don't trust our current fullbacks to be able to cope with Salah/Mane. Wouldn't mind seeing a back 5 to compensate by adding Chambers.. then swap Torreira for Wilock in midfield with Laca and Aubamayang upfornt.

Totally get where you're coming from but Emery's finally given up on his 5 at the back formation and long term we need to move away from having 3 CBs on the pitch.

Honestly not looking forward to this game, our record at Anfield is pretty poor - particularly when Salah, Firmino and Mane are around. The main positive is that we're getting this fixture over and done with early on in the season.

jones wrote:
Mirth wrote:

I don't want Xhaka in there - he's far too ponderous on the ball to cope with the Liverpool press.

He coped pretty well with it when we drew 1-1 at the Emirates, got MOTM even if I recall correctly. Still would agree that he can't play this one as he's not fit or in form, Guendouzi Torreira Ceballos is the way to go.

If Xhaka was more balanced or more nimble, pace wouldn't be an issue but, as it is, he is too limited a player.

As for the Liverpool game at the Emirates, Xhaka was good but he wasn't the only reason the team performed well.
We subdued Salah by overloading the left wing with Auba, Kola and Ozil on the overlap forcing TAA to defend rather than support their attack. Also Klopp said after the game that Liverpool didn't really employ the press which left space for Arsenal to make the passes they wanted.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/11/05/arsenal-vs-liverpool-deconstructed-unai-emerys-work-in-progress/

At Anfield, in the return leg, it was a different story and we got battered 5-1 with the hard running Ramsey and Torreira partnering Xhaka in midfield and no Ozil on the pitch for a convenient excuse.

Doc wrote:

Don't trust our current fullbacks to be able to cope with Salah/Mane. Wouldn't mind seeing a back 5 to compensate by adding Chambers.. then swap Torreira for Wilock in midfield with Laca and Aubamayang upfornt.

The back 5 just makes things worse, no one knows who to pick up. 

Emery actually used the back 5 more often against lesser sides last season rather than in big games where we often went with a 4. 

Bold Tone wrote:
jones wrote:

He coped pretty well with it when we drew 1-1 at the Emirates, got MOTM even if I recall correctly. Still would agree that he can't play this one as he's not fit or in form, Guendouzi Torreira Ceballos is the way to go.

If Xhaka was more balanced or more nimble, pace wouldn't be an issue but, as it is, he is too limited a player.

As for the Liverpool game at the Emirates, Xhaka was good but he wasn't the only reason the team performed well.
We subdued Salah by overloading the left wing with Auba, Kola and Ozil on the overlap forcing TAA to defend rather than support their attack. Also Klopp said after the game that Liverpool didn't really employ the press which left space for Arsenal to make the passes they wanted.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/11/05/arsenal-vs-liverpool-deconstructed-unai-emerys-work-in-progress/

At Anfield, in the return leg, it was a different story and we got battered 5-1 with the hard running Ramsey and Torreira partnering Xhaka in midfield and no Ozil on the pitch for a convenient excuse.

Anfield last season was a catastrophic game but not as one sided as the scoreline suggests. We conceded because of braindead defending by Mustafi and Lichtsteiner, sheer dumb luck like the first goal and a bunch of dodgy calls.

Really hope and relatively confident we can do these cunts, need it especially for that little rat Van Dijk (what non-Brazilian defender puts their first name on their shirt ffs) and that ass ugly dickhead Firmino with his disgusting chameleon eyes or as they say in the Maghreb one eye is taking a shit the other is looking for toilet paper.


Was this our last good performance at Anfield? Diaby was genuinely unplayable that day

my first real impression of geeroo after that game became my lasting impression of him.

We were quite good in the 3-3 draw when Joe Allen equalised in the dying stages. That in my opinion started our poor run which handed Leicester the title, in the sense that pressure in the run in never came from us.

Rohit wrote:

We were quite good in the 3-3 draw when Joe Allen equalised in the dying stages. That in my opinion started our poor run which handed Leicester the title, in the sense that pressure in the run in never came from us.

Wow I actually have no memories of that match at all. I thought it was the last min corner where the scouse scored a header but I googled it its a totally different match

we were doing well in the 1-5 game for the first 20 minutes as well. The nature of our first conceded goal was so terrible the whole dynamic of the game turned for good.

goon wrote:

Emery actually used the back 5 more often against lesser sides last season rather than in big games where we often went with a 4. 

Btw we used 3 at the back for the Anfield game last season; Lichsteiner, Sokratis and Mustafi.

Clrnc wrote:


Was this our last good performance at Anfield? Diaby was genuinely unplayable that day

That was when he took one giant Vieira shaped shit on the middle of Anfield, monster performance. I was rarely as glad to see an Arsenal player put it together like that, not because I always thought he had it in him but because he's such a nice and humble bloke. Think he immediately got a call up for France again and got a MOTM and/or scored in the next game before he got injured again

essien injured him after that right?

jones wrote:
Bold Tone wrote:

If Xhaka was more balanced or more nimble, pace wouldn't be an issue but, as it is, he is too limited a player.

As for the Liverpool game at the Emirates, Xhaka was good but he wasn't the only reason the team performed well.
We subdued Salah by overloading the left wing with Auba, Kola and Ozil on the overlap forcing TAA to defend rather than support their attack. Also Klopp said after the game that Liverpool didn't really employ the press which left space for Arsenal to make the passes they wanted.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/11/05/arsenal-vs-liverpool-deconstructed-unai-emerys-work-in-progress/

At Anfield, in the return leg, it was a different story and we got battered 5-1 with the hard running Ramsey and Torreira partnering Xhaka in midfield and no Ozil on the pitch for a convenient excuse.

Anfield last season was a catastrophic game but not as one sided as the scoreline suggests. We conceded because of braindead defending by Mustafi and Lichtsteiner, sheer dumb luck like the first goal and a bunch of dodgy calls.

Really hope and relatively confident we can do these cunts, need it especially for that little rat Van Dijk (what non-Brazilian defender puts their first name on their shirt ffs) and that ass ugly dickhead Firmino with his disgusting chameleon eyes or as they say in the Maghreb one eye is taking a shit the other is looking for toilet paper.

There is genuinely something unsettling about Firmino's eyes that sends a chill up my spine and makes my blood run cold.

jones wrote:
Bold Tone wrote:

If Xhaka was more balanced or more nimble, pace wouldn't be an issue but, as it is, he is too limited a player.

As for the Liverpool game at the Emirates, Xhaka was good but he wasn't the only reason the team performed well.
We subdued Salah by overloading the left wing with Auba, Kola and Ozil on the overlap forcing TAA to defend rather than support their attack. Also Klopp said after the game that Liverpool didn't really employ the press which left space for Arsenal to make the passes they wanted.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/11/05/arsenal-vs-liverpool-deconstructed-unai-emerys-work-in-progress/

At Anfield, in the return leg, it was a different story and we got battered 5-1 with the hard running Ramsey and Torreira partnering Xhaka in midfield and no Ozil on the pitch for a convenient excuse.

Anfield last season was a catastrophic game but not as one sided as the scoreline suggests. We conceded because of braindead defending by Mustafi and Lichtsteiner, sheer dumb luck like the first goal and a bunch of dodgy calls.

Really hope and relatively confident we can do these cunts, need it especially for that little rat Van Dijk (what non-Brazilian defender puts their first name on their shirt ffs) and that ass ugly dickhead Firmino with his disgusting chameleon eyes or as they say in the Maghreb one eye is taking a shit the other is looking for toilet paper.

one who is beefing with their father and doesn't want his last name on his shirt.

Clrnc wrote:


Was this our last good performance at Anfield? Diaby was genuinely unplayable that day

What a player. The streets will never forget.

Auba saying we're looking for revenge at Anfield. Getting me hyped.

We lost 1-5 at Anfield because that is how much better they were than us. Nothing to do with how their players look like or what name they have on their shirts and i'm pretty confident that's not what Emery is telling his players.

If it is about the players we fielded, that's on Emery who picked them. His job is to win as many games by managing and utilising the resources at his disposal. Before anyone starts mentioning injuries, it's a physical league and every team suffers them at different stages and if you are not equipped to deal with them, you are the inferior team.
Finally, the only confident posters i recognise are the ones who have voted accordingly (Claudius, Tam and myself).