Arsenal return to Premier League action for the first time in three weeks on Saturday and it just happens to be one of their most important matches of the season. The Gunners travel to Anfield to face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in a game that could go a long way to deciding who is and isn’t in the top four at the end of the season.
Arsene Wenger’s consistency in ensuring Arsenal finish in the UEFA Champions League qualifying positions has been a point of pride in his reign at the Emirates but the challenge to do that has never been greater.
Manchester United are breathing down their necks, as are Liverpool directly behind them, and a defeat could be a critical blow to their top four hopes.
As massive 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich is still causing reverberations throughout the Arsenal support and despite progressing in the FA Cup against Sutton United, the pressure remains on the team to put in a big performance at Anfield.
This is Arsenal’s how-to-guide to defeating Liverpool…
The key man: Alexis Sanchez
Even in the pressure cooker of the Allianz Arena 1-0 down to Bayern Munich, Alexis Sanchez managed to step up and provide what was at the time a vital contribution to the Gunners cause. We all know what happened after that, but it underlines that Sanchez is the elite player in the Arsenal squad. They need him.
The Chilean striker has six goals and four assists in his last ten Arsenal appearances and that’s arguably him not at the peak of his powers.
Two goals last time out against Hull City provided victory and likewise on Saturday, if they’re to get a result Sanchez will likely be at the very heart of it.
The question for Wenger is whether to deploy him through the middle or bring in Danny Welbeck or Olivier Giroud to play through the middle and unleash Sanchez on the left hand side. There are arguments for both and while Sanchez is at his best in central areas, he can probably exploit Liverpool’s tendency to get full-backs forward if out wide.
What’s certain is that Arsenal need to build the game around the former Barcelona man. He’s the key to victory.
The big threat: Philippe Coutinho
After an eleven game streak without a goal, Philippe Coutinho finally got back on the scoresheet against Leicester City on Monday night and while it was ultimately a consolation, it could be a sign that the explosive Brazilian is getting back to where Liverpool need him to be.
With the focus likely to be on Sadio Mane, it could leave space and time for Coutinho to exploit the Arsenal backline. Arsene Wenger can’t be complacent when it comes to this danger man despite the undoubted threat of Mane.
Don’t forget it was Coutinho who put in a man of the match performance against the Gunners on the opening day of the season, scoring twice as the Reds sunk Wenger’s men 4-3 at the Emirates.
The attacking midfielder was in absolutely lightning form before his injury and hasn’t quite hit those heights since. However, Saturday’s game at Anfield is the perfect time to re-announce himself as Liverpool’s top dog. It could be his day.
Liverpool’s weakness: That ropey, makeshift defence
When all is said and done at the end of the season Liverpool fans will look back on the campaign and rue the performance of their defence. It’s an area that needs massive investment in the summer and a tactical rethink from Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have scored as many goals as any other side in the Premier League, including Chelsea, but have conceded more goals than any other side in the top eight positions. Fixing their defensive problems could be the difference between also-rans and title challengers.
The fact remains though that those defensive problems most certainly aren’t fixed and are unlikely to be until the summer and that’s something Arsenal can exploit.
Against Leicester the defence had a natural midfielder at the centre of defence and a natural midfielder at left-back. That could well be the case on Saturday too. If Wenger can effectively get the likes of Theo Walcott running in between Lucas Leiva and James Milner it could be bad times for the home side.
