Match Day Thread Arsenal vs. Liverpool 2016/17 Official Match Thread

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Venue: Emirates Stadium
Sunday, August 14th 2016
KO Time: 16.00 BST

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Head to Head Against Liverpool:
Played: 201
Wins: 72
Draws: 53
Losses: 76
Goals For: 266
Goals Against: 285
Goal Difference: -19

Last 6 Meetings:
Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal
Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (FA Cup)
Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal

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Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of the Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday:
on Gabriel…
Gabriel has an ankle problem, and will be out for six to eight weeks. It is a bit better than we feared at the start.

on Jack Wilshere…
Jack is doing well, but he will be short for Sunday. He is back in training but will not be completely ready for Sunday.

Carl Jenkinson…
Carl is doing well, and he should be back in November. He is on schedule for his return.

on Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck…
We had very good news on Danny’s latest scan and Per is at the moment off his feet for three weeks, so of course if is a bit boring for him. He is with his family in Hannover, but on the football front he is very frustrated. We think it will be four to five months for both players.

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So nice promising news from the boss to start the season with
Basically most of our injured players are out until Nov/Xmas time (they are always later than wenger estimates) while we won't see Welbeck or Merts until after Xmas probably. But at least Wilshere 'should' be back in time for next week unless he gets more twinges again!

Hopefully that German defender will sign soon and we'll bring in a striker!

 

A great game to open the season, quite simple from us we need to play a very high tempo and take our chances early on.

Probable line up

Mingolet
Clyne Lovren Klavan Moreno
Hendo Can
Mane Firmino Coutinho
Origi​

 

What do you think Klavan will be like?

Is Sturridge fit as well?

 

Studge injured no surprises there, Klavan has been brilliant in pre-season.

 

No surprise about Studge - such a shame as he could be excellent with a injury free run. A shame about Klavan as well from an Arsenal perspective !

I was hoping he'd be a stinker...

 

The scousers are gonna faakin' smash you all over the park!

 

First big game of the season, should be a good'n. I'll take a scrappy 1-0 lead but sounds like both defences could be a bit suspect!

Hoping the pace and movement of Mane/Firm/Cout/Origi will be too much for your inexperienced CB partnership. We have a horrible away start to the season as well with you, Burnley, Spurs, Chelsea as our first 4 away games.

 

He could well be to be honest, but as Luv said, he's been solid.

He looks like the kind of defender that'll give you a solid 7/10 every week.

 

Given our injury/fitness list for this game I'd like to see us play a tight game and try to hit them on the counter. Normally I'd be confident that we can play our style of football and try to control the game, control the possession and tempo and force ourselves on the game, but looking at the players we have out I'd like to see us take a more cautious approach with pace up top for the fast counter. We have Xhaka and El Neny available and I've seen reports that Ozil won't be ready to start this game so I'd put Ramsey in there and try to match the high energy and pressing of the Liverpool team.

From what I've read we have a lot of players either injured or not at full fitness (or ready to start games) yet. Anyone have a source for who is actually available for this one other than the injured players mentioned in the OP?

 

I'm going to meet the players before the game

 

Found a way to sneak into the changing rooms?

 

I think this game has got draw written all over it. I can't see us keeping Liverpool out with our defensive problems, but we looked quite sharp going forward in pre-season so I think we can score too. I reckon either 1-1 or 2-2

 

Klaven is very experienced, quite an old school no nonsense defender, looked excellent in pre-season. It'll be interesting to see how he gets on in the PL. Although I think if all were fit and ready, he'd only be back up.

Sturridge could play but is a few days behind in training and Klopp won't pick someone that isn't up to speed, he just doesn't. I think Origi is our best striker anyway, especially against strong teams as he puts more effort in.

Teams we can dominate possession, Sturridge is the better fit. So even if he was fit I'd start Origi, very good young striker.


So hard to predict this match tbh. Score draw perhaps?

 

Depends on which defense is more crap on the day. It may be a cautious start as it's the first game, but there are goals in the game if both attack. The result could go either way, it's a hard one to predict.

 

Did I mention that I was going to meet the players before the game ?

 

I reckon we should play carzola ... Liverpool will try to put a high pressure and carzola, with his technique, can help us get out of that pressure. Essential.

 

Liverpool will try to chase you down all over the field, I feel your passing is a lot sharper and more accurate than anyone they have met in pre-season (Barca were well off with control and passing) and after 30 mins they will drop back and you will take control.
I have predicted 2-2 based on the fact you have a depleted defence but would not be surprised with 2-0 to Arsenal.

 

Speaking of last seasons 3-3 game, Klopp said: “I think everyone who saw the game saw the difference between this game and all the other Arsenal games.

“But in the last few years Arsenal had a more direct style. They have only good football players but at the end they don’t use all of them in each build up or each offensive movement - it is a myth. It is definitely a plan and they want to win games.”

 

Look at you showing off just coz you're going to the physio room!