Arsenal Vs Liverpool

Ravneet Singh wrote:It wont be a easy game.Liverpool will play pressing game as they have done against all top sides.Our midfield is gonna get no time on the ball.Its gonna be a challenge.Will be interesting to see what kind of tactics we come up with.

This is why I would like to see pace used against them...get behind them as quickly as possible,even do a trick from ol big Sam's bag and launch a couple over the top for Theo to latch onto...

Theo vs Enrique should be interesting. Enrique is a good defender but he is not the fastest, I think Theo could really do damage in this area especially after last week's performance. I am not worried about Suarez against TV/Kos as that's the type of forward they like defending against.

I am strangely expecting TV to keep Suarez quiet for most of the game....
As I said for the pace if we go ahead with it and have them on from the start it could be a better game than expected...

This is a tougher game than Spurs.

Against Spurs, we were playing at home, had a full week to prepare, and our best defence available all week to prepare.

This time, we have had many players away on international duty, arriving back at various times, playing the Saturday early game.

I predict a loss. A draw or win would be a big effort.

Cant help but think draw. cant see Pool winning it, but cant see them losing it

I will be over the moon if we beat Liverpool at Anfield !! Spurs will go into their game against United knowing that they have just 4 points separating Arsenal from them.

injuries update:

on the situation after the internationals...
So far it is OK, we have no injuries from Wednesday night. Everybody looks alright.

on Van Persie coming off at half time...
It was planned by his manager because he knows we have a tough schedule. We are the only team in the world who plays Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday.

on Aaron Ramsey (ankle)...
It is too early for him, he has no chance for the weekend. He will be out for Milan as well.

on Johan Djourou (thigh)...
He is not far. He could be OK for Milan maybe.

on Andre Santos (ankle)...
He is doing good, he is not far as well - two weeks away from returning to the group. It is a bit ahead of time and he works with a fantastic attitude. He is unbelievably focused, motivated every day and he is a credit to himself. It is a joy to see how hard he works and sets himself targets. In two weeks we will assess how well he is doing in training.

on Francis Coquelin (hamstring)...
He is four weeks away.

No news about vermaelen and rosicky though

Benny over Gervinho, perhaps bringing Gervinho on late if we need a goal and some pace/trickery. Benny knows Anfield and (theoretically) should be more comfortable playing there.

The rest of the squad pick itself assuming everyone are fit as fiddles. I'm confident about this one, I think we're gonna do them.

TV has been poor lately. I trust Koscielny more these days.

From Twitter, looks like VP and Vermaelen having fitness tests this morning, Rosicky should be ok despite groin problem and Diaby is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who's Diaby?

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has accused Belgium of playing Thomas Vermaelen while injured, with the Gunners boss suggesting he will take the matter further.

Vermaelen played the full 90 minutes of Belgium's friendly in Greece on Wednesday against the advice of the Gunners.

"It looks like Belgium has made a decision which I still do not understand and we will look to see if we can put a complaint in,'' Wenger said. "Firstly they forced the player to travel, then they forced him to play 90 minutes after being injured and had a centre-back on the bench who did not play at all, in a friendly game knowing they do not even go to the European Championship. For me, that is difficult to understand.

"The friendlies are becoming more and more difficult to accept for everybody. I was always in favour of using the players for official games and I never asked any player not to go 100% for his country when it is a qualifier or a big competition, but the friendlies are becoming more and more difficult, especially in this period.

"For us it is vital we do not lose the players now. If you go into a period like that with players already touched (by injury) you have more chances to lose the players.

"We are the only team in the world who had that schedule so it is very difficult to understand that our players had to go injured to Greece and play 90 minutes for Belgium. That's frankly not defendable. It is disrespectful to the players as well as me.''

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/138996.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

I expect RvP to start after he played for Holland and got taken off as a precaution, but Vermaelen has me worrying a little. I doubt Wenger would say all this unless there was definately something wrong with him due to the Belgium/Greece game.

A win at Anfield would be massive !!! real big game tomorrow !! bigger test than Spurs at home imo because we are away and their form against the top 6 is extremely impressive !!

I cant see us winning tho - going to go 2-0 Liverpool (both goals on the break) I predict wenger looking like a spoilt child with his arms crossed on the bench and a knock for Diaby which will lead to another three months on the side lines !!

Thats right this game folks will bring us crashing back down to earth , but dont be annoyed , we are Arsenal its what we do best !!!

WENGER OUT (thought I would get that one in early folks)

In other team news Theo Goalcott has shaved his hair again this week .

Wenger knows ! (he helped him do the back)

Come on Dan, you of all people know that Theo is reliant on his pace. The additional wind resistance that an imperfectly shaved head would add is the difference between winning and losing.

Wenger is pissed about Vermaelen, and if what he's suggesting is true he should be. At least UEFA agreed to cut down on the international friendlies, albeit only 3 games

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17191931

Arsene is the Manager of the month.

Jenks1981 wrote:From Twitter, looks like VP and Vermaelen having fitness tests this morning, Rosicky should be ok despite groin problem and Diaby is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is that diaby is back? Or he has hurt his back?

Lol....you could almost see him getting an injury in his first training session...

-----------------SZCZESNY----------------
SAGNA---KOSCIELNY---VERMAELEN---GIBBS
SONG-------------ARTETA---------ROSICKY
WALCOTT-------van PERSIE------BENAYOUN

Defense picks itself, really. Song, Arteta, and Rosicky (especially Rosicky) are all in good form, so I'd go with them. Same front three as before too. Starting Benayoun against Spurs really seemed to have a big impact on our attack. And this also allows us to put in Gervinho late on, when Liverpool start getting some tired legs. Hopefully Walcott keeps up his good form and gives Enrique a tough day at the office, and Robin will probably be up to his usual greatness. Chamberlain on for Walcott in the later stages of the game, and maybe we'll get to see Diaby play for a few minutes before he gets injured in training tomorrow.

I reckon Arsene will throw Diaby in there, just for the fuck of it.

Diaby's gonna destroy them off the bench!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off to put some money on arsenal to win... 3-1 come on my boys!!!!

hmmm think it'll be close than 3-1. dont think there'll be more than a goal in it. still leaning towards draw

As long as spuds get another battering it could be a good day...

nah chelsea will beat west brom away so won't be great but will definitely take a spud loss (as always)

Completly forgot chelsea's game today...hmmmm I feel an accumulator at the bookies coming on lol...