Focus is now firmly on the new Premier League season here in the Transfer Tavern as rival fans begin to talk up their own chances as well as dismiss those of the other clubs.
The opening set of fixtures has thrown up some eye-catching games to kick off 2016/17 but arguably none more so than Arsenal hosting Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Two of England’s biggest clubs go head to head once more in north London in a fixture that nearly always offers up goals.
In recent seasons Arsenal beat Liverpool 4-1 where as the Reds beat the Gunners 5-1 famously the season before. Only last season there was a 3-3 at Anfield and fans of both clubs as well as the neutrals will be expecting another cracking game.
It’ll all come down to who gets their tactics right on the day and our landlord thinks if the Gunners go with this 4-4-2, with the right signings, it could be curtains for Liverpool…
Petr Cech
Cech is hugely reliable in goal and barring injury will start on the opening day of the season against the Merseysiders.
The now retired Czech Republic stopper continues to put in game saving performances and will be key for Arsenal to gather any momentum by keeping the Reds out.
Wenger brought Cech in to help them win the league and in games like this is where he comes into his own.
Hector Bellerin, Laurent Koscielny, Raphael Varane, Ricardo Rodriguez
Following on from the basis Cech will set, Arsenal’s defence need to build on it.
Hector Bellerin and Laurent Koscielny will both start with the former having a knack of playing well against the Reds.
Arsenal need to strengthen in defence though to win the league and brush Liverpool aside and Varane and Rodriguez would help do this.
Koscielny and Varane would be a formidable partnership whilst Rodriguez would also add an attacking threat too giving the Gunners another dimension.
Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil
The Gunners’ midfield options are well documented and whoever Wenger picks will be able to do damage.
This midfield has Sanchez down the right to expose Liverpool’s weak left back position, whilst Xhaka gives the Gunners some much needed bite to combat the running of Emre Can and Jordan Henderson.
Cazorla will do what he does best and pull all the strings whilst Mesut Ozil will aim to draw Nathaniel Clyne out of position and allow Rodriguez to overlap on the left, as well as threading balls through to the Gunners new look strike-force.
Gonzalo Higuain, Alexandre Lacazette
Very few defences in world football could keep a partnership of this two quiet and with Liverpool’s often shaky back four it could get messy quickly.
Higuain is a world class forward who needs no introduction and would only need on slip from the Reds’ defence to punish them.
Throw in the prospect of Lacazette hustling the Liverpool back-line and his goal-scoring threat, the Gunners could make a real title statement even this early in the season.
