You can certainly argue that this is a must win game for Arsenal. The Gunners are five points behind Liverpool at the top of the league and with trips to the Etihad Stadium, Old Trafford and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium still to come they can’t afford to cede any more ground. Mikel Arteta isn’t buying into that, though.
What we need to do is play like we played in the last two games against them and be more efficient in the areas that will decide the game,” the Spaniard said in his pre-match press conference. “I’m very excited. It’s always good to prepare a game against Liverpool, with how they are. We play at home and what I sense is real positivity and enthusiasm around the place.
Even at this early stage you can almost say with certainty that if Arsenal lose this game then the title race might be over for them. As a result, it’s crucial for Arteta to get his team selection right.
Luckily for him football.london writers Kaya Kaynak and Joe Doyle have offered a helping hand. Here they decide who they think Arsenal should start
It almost goes without saying at this point, but David Raya is the obvious choice in goal. It’s harsh on Aaron Ramsdale, who was good against Liverpool in the cup.
- If Takehiro Tomiyasu was available for this one I would be choosing him, but with the Japan international still at the Asian Cup it’s got to be Oleksandr Zinchenko at left back. His sparring partner on Tuesday night Ben White has to play too, while Gabriel and William Saliba are dead certs.
