Arsenal Vs Liverpool at the Emirates is definitely the highlight of this weekend’s football activity, well not El Classico levels but…you get what I mean. The gunners are unbeaten in 13 matches and the waves of change ever since Unai Emery took are clearly in full swing.
From benching the clubs most highly played player in Mesut Ozil, to Aaron Ramsey’s offer contract withdrawal along with the new found resilience and tactical acumen, everything just feels different. The CEO also left, alongside Russian billlionare Alisher Usmanov following Stan Kroenke’s full ownership of the club.
Mustafi may still be the same old accident waiting to happen, but even then, the accidents are much fewer nowadays. Lucas Torreira has been a revelation since his move from the Italian Serie A midtable club Sampdoria while the 19 year old Matteo Guendouzi has been nothing short of unbelievable.
Hector Bellerin’s early season flaws have been wiped out and the Spanish right back now looks comfortable in defence as well as he so often does in attack. Nacho Monreal has not looked 32 and has been the team’s most consistent player over the past seasons. Greek center back Sokratis has looked decent too.
The Gunners however come up against Liverpool side still unbeaten in the league and were in the Champions League final last season. Mohamed Salah seems to have rediscovered the high levels we all know he is capable of. The last time Emery played Klopp was the Europa League final. From what I remember, he let Liverpool exhaust themselves in the first 60, then picked them off when their legs were gone. I think the Liverpool team is a touch more sophisticated in 2018.
The match also represents Arsenal’s first big test in the now famous unbeaten run, it should really be a winning were it not for Mustafi’s brain fart at Crystal Palace last week. Unai Emery lost his first two big assignments in Manchester City and Chelsea but his task on the third time of asking has been complicated by the injuries to Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal, both starting full backs while Matteo Guendouzi is suspended for this match owning to a red card in Wednesday’s Carabao win over Blackpool.
Betting Tips
Arsenal have been very poor defensively even in the wining run, while Liverpool’s attack seems to have found their grove back, especially Salah and Mane while Firmino never lost it to start with! At Home Arsenal will however almost always score. Goals should be in plenty..
Last season’s score: Arsenal 3- 3 Liverpool
Over 2.5 goals at 1.50
Both teams to score at 1.50