Arsenal fans in the Transfer Tavern have been left incredibly frustrated by their early season struggles and they’re ready to go to war if things don’t go their way this weekend.
The Gunners were fortunate to overcome Leicester City on the opening night of the new Premier League season and were undone by Stoke City at the weekend, with the Potters keeping all three points in Staffordshire.
Arsene Wenger’s side looked lacklustre in that defeat and it’s raised the pressure ahead of this weekend’s crunch-tie with Liverpool at Anfield, as a defeat in that match would bring the demons straight out of the closet once again.
That’s especially true as Wenger and the Gunners board seem to be reluctant to splash the cash further in the market, despite the general consensus in the bar being that Arsenal still remain short of their title rivals.
If Arsenal are to move forward then victory against Liverpool this weekend is a must. Lose there and the season could be heading down the pan already.
Hit the navigation buttons below to see the XI Arsenal must select this weekend.
GK: Petr Cech
Arsenal’s veteran goalkeeper has had his fair share of critics at the start of the new season and it’s easy to see why. The former Chelsea ace is clearly past his best and needs replacing. However, that’s unlikely to come anytime soon and he’ll remain first-choice.
If the fans are to get off his back, then Arsenal need a victory at the weekend and a clean sheet to go along with it- but the latter has been difficult to come by for the Gunners, with their defence regularly exposed due to a variety of reasons.
CB: Laurent Koscielny
Having missed the first two games of the season due to suspension, Laurent Koscielny returns ahead of this weekend’s clash with Liverpool at Anfield and his presence in the side is being cried out for. Without him, Arsenal’s line consisted mostly of full-backs being played out of position.
The French international is a leading candidate to take the Arsenal captaincy next summer but he needs to prove he can lead the side, as he’s regularly been called out for not controlling the defensive line. That seemed to improve when Arsenal switched to a three-back defence but the jury remains out on whether that’s the answer to Arsenal’s issues.
CB: Per Mertesacker
Missing the first two games of the season due to an injury sustained in the Community Shield victory over Chelsea, question marks were asked about Arsenal’s decision to leave him out of the line-up for the defeat to Stoke and a return is expected this weekend.
The veteran proved his worth at the back-end of last season, with a starring performance in the FA Cup final, and Mertesacker remains a crucial asset this campaign. With Gabriel Paulista’s sale to Valencia, Arsenal are short of central options and having their big German defender back to his best is vital.
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
Making his return to Arsenal at the weekend following extended leave due to his involvement in the Confederations Cup in the summer, Mustafi struggled to shine in a defensive trio alongside wing-backs Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac.
With two natural-centre partners against Liverpool, Mustafi and Arsenal’s defensive line can shine against a Reds side who have struggled to break down sides in the past. If Arsenal can remain solid this weekend, then victory is there to be grabbed.
RWB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Hector Bellerin has been poor on the right-side at the start of the new season and it could provide the opportunity for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to shine in his place, with the England ace having shown his versatility in recent months.
The former Southampton man has filled-in on the left during the early stages of the season but has struggled to show the sort of effectiveness he displayed previously on the opposite flank, which means a return to the right-side this weekend is called for.
CM: Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka has struggled to find his feet without a stable central-midfield partner but that should be solved over the course of the coming weeks and the former Borussia Monchengladbach man has shown flashes of his brilliance.
Arsenal will need more consistent performances from the Swiss ace and a game against Liverpool is the sort of match where he cannot afford any mistakes. However, with a more solid defence behind him, Xhaka should be able to shine at Anfield.
CM: Aaron Ramsey
Having come off the bench on the opening night to score in the dramatic 4-3 victory over Leicester City, Aaron Ramsey started in the defeat to Stoke but was regularly found out of position and needs to improve upon his tactical awareness.
A settled defensive line behind him will help cut out the mistakes but Ramsey needs to show he’s capable of being a consistent performer for the Gunners, rather than a player who shines only in purple patches in certain stages of the campaign.
LWB: Sead Kolasinac
Already a fan favourite at Arsenal, it’s remarkable that we’re yet to see Sead Kolasinac play in his natural position. Despite making the Bundesliga Team of the Year last season for his performances at left wing-back, Kolasinac has only played centrally thus far.
That’s a massive oversight on Arsene Wenger’s part and one that needs to be changed immediately. With central-defenders returning and the ability to move things around, Kolasinac on the left is something that needs to happen.
RW: Theo Walcott
Danny Welbeck was one of Arsenal’s worst performers in the defeat to Stoke and was also far from convincing against Leicester, despite finding the back of the net. As such, a change should be made and Theo Walcott should be issued with the chance to shine.
The pacy winger has the experience Arsenal need to bounce-back from their difficult spell following the defeat to the Potters and he’s the sort of player who can create havoc when up against Liverpool’s left-back; regardless of whether James Milner, Alberto Moreno or Andrew Robertson is selected to play against him.
LW: Mesut Ozil
Unfairly criticised for the defeat to Stoke City, Mesut Ozil does need to show better tactical awareness and needs to be frank with his team-mates. At stages against the Potters he was the furthest midfielder back, forced into that position as Xhaka and Ramsey were far too adventurous in attack.
In a 3-4-3, Ozil would likely play of the left side of the attacking trident and, whilst he’s struggled in this position in the past, Liverpool’s attack-minded full-backs could leave plenty of space for the German to exploit.
ST: Alexandre Lacazette
Unfortunate not to have scored his second goal in as many Premier League games v Stoke, due to his fantastic strike being narrowly ruled offside, Alexandre Lacazette has shown he has the capabilities to lead Arsenal’s line this season.
As he came from Ligue 1 though, many consider him to have plenty to prove against the top opposition and a clash with Liverpool at Anfield is the perfect opportunity for him to show the world what he’s truly made of. Jurgen Klopp’s back-line is hardly solid, so opportunities should be forthcoming.
