Pick of the Week:

Pre-Match:

                       

 VS

                          Emirates Stadium, London.

The Gunners will entertain Liverpool for the Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off behind two clean-sheets, although against an impotent Newcastle attack and an unprepared Udinese side with questionable match fitness. This is a fixture that may have come just a bit too early for Arsenal, given the heavy toll that injuries, suspensions and of course departures have inflicted on the side.

Kerion Gibbs will miss this match with Hamstring injury while Vermaelen has no recurrence of back-injury which kept him out for almost a year. However Arsenal’s midfield misery continues. Song was handed a three-match suspension for his stomp on Joey Barton, Wilshere’ ankle injury will keep him at bay for at least two more fixtures. Meanwhile with Rosicky’s thigh problem and Traore’s groin, they will have to pass a late fitness test. Van Persie, newly appointed club captain, will lead the attack alongside Chamakh due to an absent strike partner Gervinho. Amidst the lack of persona and flair, Wenger still wishes to install “tika-taka” philosophy but then neither have character and grit in the team to grind out a result.

Liverpool’s romantic opener against Sunderland was thwarted by Larsson‘s marvellous volley which was game of two-halves; Liverpool never turned up in the second, resonating how dearly they miss their talisman, Steven Gerrard.  With his recovery termed as “brilliant”, Daglish’s only causality is Glenn Johnson. He would definitely expect Carroll to stamp his authority on Arsenal’s defence, having tormented them at Emirates with Newcastle. They would still need a fix for the right flank position; clearly Henderson’s more preferred role is centre midfield. Downing and Adams, very fluidic in the first half of the opening game should offer more throughout this time. They are also yet gel as defensive unit.   

"Football is difficult enough if you are united. If you are not united, you have no chance." – Arsene Wenger. Although being “united” may not be the only thing he needs; fan’s positive voice would help.   

Probable XI:

Arsenal: (4-4-2) Schezny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Walcott, Ramsey, Rosicky, Arshavin, Chamakh, Van Perise

Liverpool: (4-4-2) Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Kuyt, Adams, Lucas, Downing, Carroll, Suarez.