What: English Premier League
Who: Arsenal vs Liverpool
When: Wednesday 30th January, 2013, at 19:45 UK Time
Where: Emirates Stadium, London, England
Arsenal Desperately Search for Consistency
The 5-1 thrashing of West Ham last week will have both pleased and perplexed Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal faithful. It was a reminder of how good Arsenal are at their best, but asked pertinent questions of how they could have played so badly in defeat at Chelsea days earlier. That in itself sums up the inconsistency which has been at the heart of Arsenal’s problems this season. If Wenger’s side play for the remaining four months of the season as they have for the last four, then they will miss out on the Champions League for the first time since 1997.
Wenger will remind his charges that it was after January that Arsenal’s season really picked up last year, as they went on a run of victories which eventually sealed their participation in Europe’s elite competition once again. That was in part because of the fact that Arsenal’s new signings of the summer of 2011 finally began to click in the second half of last season, and there are some signs that the same thing is happening now. It was the combination of Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, this year’s captures, who were so impressive last week against West Ham. Podolski in particular shone, whilst Giroud is in good form. Yet with the transfer window coming to a close this week, Arsenal fans are baying for more signings. If no one has arrived by Wednesday, as seems likely, then unless they can beat Liverpool, Wenger will expect the home support to implore him to finally open his chequebook and add strength to a brittle squad.
It is somewhat ironic that it is up front that Arsenal seem most likely to add to their squad. Wenger has managed, six months after Robin van Persie’s departure, to create an enticing battle for the centre forward position. Theo Walcott’s fine form has been impressive as he has finally shown consistency in an Arsenal shirt, while Giroud is scoring regularly as well. With Podolski making no secret of his preference to play as a centre forward, Wenger as least has a pleasant selection headache to deal with going forward.
Liverpool Harbour Outside Hopes of Top Four Spot
If Arsenal do not make the top four this season, one team who could conceivably finish above them are Liverpool. The 2005 Champions League winners have not really been a part of the conversation over who will finish in the two positions up for grabs, but along with Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton, they cannot be dismissed from this particular race.
Sunday’s defeat to Oldham may dent the confidence after some encouraging form in the league, which has seen Liverpool climb to seventh, three points adrift of Arsenal. A further four points away from fourth-placed Tottenham, Liverpool have quite a way to go still to get into the top four, but if they can repeat the form they have been showing against teams like Norwich when they face the top sides, they can make progress.
This week looks a particularly important one for their season. In the transfer market, Liverpool are set to add the young Brazilian Phillippe Coutinho to their squad, to give them another option going forward. That depth could give Liverpool the impetus to climb the table as the season enters its final months. Yet out of both domestic cups and with the Europa League their only realistic chance of silverware, games away to Arsenal and Manchester City this week will reveal much about the present state of the Brendan Rodgers revolution at Anfield.
Recent form
Arsenal:
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal (20/01; Premier League)
Arsenal 5-1 West Ham (23/01; Premier League)
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-3 Arsenal (26/01; FA Cup)
Liverpool:
Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool (13/01; Premier League)
Liverpool 5-0 Norwich City (19/01; Premier League)
Oldham Athletic 3-2 Liverpool (27/01; FA Cup)
Key absences
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta (doubt); Thomas Vermaelen (doubt); Francis Coquelin; Gervinho
Liverpool: Pepe Reina (doubt); Glen Johnson (doubt); Jose Enrique; Martin Kelly
Players to watch
Arsenal – Lukas Podolski: Podolski had probably his best game for Arsenal last week in the thrashing of West Ham. The German was ruthless and helped tear West Ham apart with his marauding runs down the left flank. Podolski always plays best on the counter attack with space to run into and past opponents, and that is why he was so important when Arsenal won 2-0 at Anfield earlier this season. Liverpool can be expected to push men forward and so whether it is Glen Johnson or Andre Wisdom playing at right-back, Podolski can have a crucial impact on the outcome of this game.
Liverpool – Luis Suarez: There is no doubt who the danger man is for this Liverpool team. Suarez seems to be even better since the arrival of Daniel Sturridge, whom he has forged a quick relationship with. The Uruguayan is, when at his very best, almost impossible to deal with. Energetic, hard-working and with sublime close control and a venomous finish, Arsenal will not be looking forward to their meeting with Suarez. Controversy may surround him, but there is no doubt Suarez is one of the most entertaining players to watch in the Premier League.
Match Prediction
Arsenal won 2-0 at Anfield back in August, but it would be misleading to read too much into that result. With Rodgers only recently arrived, Liverpool were still trying to develop a style of play similar to Arsenal’s and so they were always likely to come up second best against a team practising the kind of football they were still getting used to. And Arsenal also looked uncharacteristically sound defensively in the opening weeks of the season.
Liverpool have looked increasingly cohesive as the season has gone on and Rodgers has done well to incorporate outcasts Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing into his team. Raheem Sterling has been a revelation going forward, although Liverpool can be profligate and can be vulnerable defensively against teams confident in possession.
As January draws to a close, Arsenal are looking superb going forward, but defensively they look disorganised, particularly without Mikel Arteta, such a crucial presence tactically in front of the back four. With Francis Coquelin also out, Liverpool’s creative players could enjoy plenty of freedom unless Arsenal can successfully push them high up the pitch. But Arsenal have been slow starters in recent matches, looking lethargic in the first half of games. Wenger puts that down to a lack of belief in their quality. And he really needs to deliver an impressive team-talk before this game. Given the way Chelsea passed the ball around a laid back Arsenal earlier this month, Liverpool could dominate if Arsenal stand off them. With two sides who are good going forward but still very much works in progress, expect chances. This game could see a stirring fightback from the home side for a dramatic, high scoring and thrilling draw. Arsenal 3-3 Liverpool.
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