please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Liverpool this weekend at Anfield and this game is of high importance for both sides in the race for a top four place. Arsenal currently sit in fourth place ahead of Chelsea because of goals scored. Liverpool are seven points behind the gunners but do have a game in hand and have the chance to cut the lead on Arsenal at Anfield this Saturday. Both teams will come into this game with confidence after the events of last weekend. Liverpool ended their trophy drought by beating Cardiff in the League cup final at Wembley. With the score all level after 120 minutes, the final had to be decided on a penalty shootout and Liverpool held their nerve to win their first trophy since 2006. Arsenal came back from two goals down to destroy Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby. Arsenal responded with five unanswered goals. Sagna got one goal back before Van Persie levelled the scores. After half-time, Thomas Rosicky put the Gunners in the lead before Theo Walcott bagged a brace to seal the emphatic victory over their bitter rivals. Arsenal went into that game on the back of two bitter defeats in two different competitions and left the Gunners with a very tiny hope of ending their seven year run without a trophy. So it was a high pressure game and Arsenal had to give their fans a response and they did. Liverpool like Arsenal have been very inconsistent in the league and both sides only have the aim of securing a Champions League place. Liverpool came out on top against Arsenal in the very early encounter between the two at the Emirates. An Aaron Ramsey own goal gave Liverpool the lead before Luis Suarez sealed the three points for the Merseysiders. Liverpool have had an eventful season on and off the pitch this season to say the least. Under Kenny Daglish they have excelled in the cup competitions. Liverpool already have the League cup in the bag and have progressed to the last eight of the FA Cup where they will take on Stoke City at home. Without any European football this season, Liverpool decided to take the cups more seriously and they have been rewarded for it. Liverpool last won a trophy six years ago so it was important to end that barren spell without one. In the league however they have been pretty average. They currently sit in seventh place and for a club of the size of Liverpool that is not good enough. Last summer, Liverpool spent big on English players who have hardly impressed. Stuart Downing for example has yet to score or create a goal in the league. He was a big money transfer from Aston Villa and has so far been a let-down in the league. Jordan Henderson has also not really lived up to his potential. A steady player but he has not worried other teams much with his attacking potential. Jose Enrique bucked the trend if poor transfers, and he has been one of the buys of the season. He shut Theo Walcott out of the game when Arsenal and Liverpool played each other back in September. One of Liverpool's main problems is scoring goals and it has cost them in many games. Liverpool have played 12 games at home and have drawn eight of them while winning the other four. That really is not the home record of a top four club. They have only scored 14 goals at home all season. Only three teams in the entire league have scored fewer home goals. While scoring goals may be a problem, conceding is not. Liverpool have only let in eight goals at home, Manchester City are the only team that have conceded less goals at home. Off the pitch, Liverpool have had a damaging season. Star forward Luis Suarez was banned for eight games after racially abusing Patrice Evra. That was bad enough but the events that followed it was even more embarrassing for the club. As one journalist put it, 'Outraged by everything and ashamed of nothing, Kenny Dalglish's response over Luis Suárez sums up the paranoia enveloping Liverpool'. The situation was inflamed when Luis Suarez refused to shake the hand of Evra when Liverpool met Manchester United at Old Trafford. The next day, the likes of Suarez and Daglish apologised for their actions. Liverpool hope that those actions will draw a line under the whole sordid saga. Luis Suarez the player is a dangerous threat to Arsenal this Saturday. He has already scored against Arsenal this season and he will have to be kept quiet if Arsenal are to shut Liverpool out. Steven Gerrard after a long injury lay off is back in the fold and Arsenal will know all about his qualities. In defence, Martin Skrtel has been a rock and has formed an excellent partnership alongside Daniel Agger. Arsenal travel to Anfield knowing that should they win, they will have a ten point lead over Liverpool. That will be a significant gap to have in March over a rival. Also with Tottenham facing Manchester United it might open the door for third if results go the way Arsenal want and need. This season has had its highs and soul crushing lows but Arsenal need to come out of it with a top four place. Under Wenger, they have never finished outside the top four and a win at Anfield will be another win that can help maintain that Wenger record. Thomas Rosicky delivered an outstanding performance against Spurs and his energy and willingness to run at the Spurs defence helped Arsenal speed up their tempo. Arsenal are predictable and easy to stop when they pass at a slow tempo as shown in the game against Sunderland in the FA cup. But when Arsenal match their passing to a high tempo then they can rip apart any team. This season they have scored five goals past teams like Chelsea and Tottenham for example. Both times they pressed and played in a direct fashion. Theo Walcott has had a disappointing 2012 and had not scored a league goal at the Emirates for over a year until the Spurs game. In the second half he showed why he can be a game changer. His pace matched with end product is a marriage that makes him one of the most dangerous players around. Arsenal will need that Walcott if they are to get the three points at Anfield. No team has beaten them at Anfield in the league this season and Arsenal will need to be at their very best if they are to change that record. Teams News: Arsene Wenger: Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs: Liverpool: Played: 208 Wins: 73 Draws: 55 Losses: 80 For: 263 Against: 289 GD: -26 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool Liverpool 1 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 0 Liverpool Liverpool 1 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 1 Liverpool (League Cup) please log in to view this image Mangers Views: Arsene Wenger: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Benny & Rosicky deserve their starting places. Theo can cause problems here, especially away from home where the crowd won't be on his back. A win here would almost guarantee Liverpool won't finish 4th - disappointing for them, and one less rival for Arsenal to worry about in the run-in.
****ing hope so. Apparently Johan Djourou has a hamstring injury and Mert is finished for the season. TV got up and finished the game so lets hope its nothing serious.
But you do get swelling and inflammation after the event. It obviously hurt at the time. Adrenalin works wonders for a while.
Great fred Jack I'd definitely start with Benayoun and Rosicky again. They were immense against the Spuds and I think they compliment each other's game really well. I think Walcott has earned his place too, so the front four should basically pick themselves really.
Will Abou Diaby play? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fb/Spalbum.jpg/215px-Spalbum.jpg
I do think we need a second top quality striker - but given our system how many games will Podolski play of RVP stays?
We may actually need Diaby then! Wenger has said Diaby is back at the end of Feb (having had 2 weeks prep since returning from rehab abroad at the start of Feb). Won't hold my breath though - he was supposed to be back in September!
Just from Arsenal.com updated today http://www.arsenal.com/news/45/injury-news "big doubt". I guess if he is playing tonight then its not as big a doubt as Wenger said!
