Arsenal will seek to firm their position in the top-four when they take on Liverpool in their next Premier League fixture at Anfield. The Gunners are currently 13 points adrift of Leaders Chelsea with a game in hand, and they may well forget their slim title chances if they lose at Merseyside on Saturday.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Lineup:
Petr Cech is set to retain his role between the sticks following a 20-day break from his side’s 2-0 over Hull City in the previous league outing.
Hector Bellerin will take up his usual position on the right side of the defence.
The centre-back partnership is unlikely to see any changes with Laurent Koscielny having recovered from the hamstring niggle sustained during the 5-1 Champions League thumping by Bayern Munich. Shkodran Mustafi will accompany the French in the heart of the backline.
Nacho Monreal no longer appears to be the first-choice at left-back, but his deputy Kieran Gibbs does not inspire much confidence either. I feel that Monreal could get the nod over the England international given his regularity in the starting lineup.
Just when Aaron Ramsey returned to full fitness, Mohamed Elneny has entered the physio room. The Egypt international will be out for at least three weeks after he suffered an ankle problem in the 2-0 over fifth-tier Sutton United in the FA Cup.
Arsene Wenger usually does not risk his players who have made an injury comeback, so expect Ramsey on the bench. Granit Xhaka and Francis Coquelin look set to start from the off at Anfield.
Theo Walcott netted his 100th Gunners goal in the 2-0 over Sutton. The Englishman could fancy himself to get on the scoresheet, should Lucas Leiva start in the Reds backline. He will take up the right-wing position.
Mesut Ozil missed Wednesday’s training session with flu-like symptoms, but he is likely to be deemed fit for the clash. Otherwise, we could see one of Alex Iwobi or Aaron Ramsey handed the number ’10’ role.
On most instances, Alex Iwobi should own the left-wing role under Wenger. But, we take a different view as a certain ‘Lucas Perez’ should be rewarded for his efforts. The manager has admitted that it was hard to leave the Spaniard previously, and he could be the surprise package.
Alexis Sanchez will, without doubt, lead the line for the Gunners. Olivier Giroud did net a brace in the 3-3 draw at Anfield last term, but it is hard seeing the Frenchman in the starting lineup unless Wenger has a change of mind.
