Arsenal will be seeking to tighten their grip on the fourth spot in the Premier League table when they welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The north Londoners maintained their impressive recent form with a comprehensive 2-0 home victory over Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City on Sunday. The win over the weekend moved Mikel Arteta’s side back into the top four with three games in hand on closest rival Manchester United.
Up next for the Gunners is the visit of Liverpool, and Mikel Arteta will want his players to step up to the stiff challenge of the title contenders this week.
Full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu is currently the only Arsenal player out on the sidelines. The Japanese international has been troubled with a calf injury over the last month or so and looks set to miss out again.
Meanwhile, the Gunners were boosted with the return of Emile Smith Rowe against Leicester City, after the young creative midfielder had missed the last two Premier League games due to testing positive for Covid-19.
Goalkeeper
Aaron Ramsdale has been a permanent fixture in goal since signing for Arsenal last summer. He will be aiming to keep back-to-back clean sheets in the league in midweek.
Defence
A strong and settled back four of Cedric Soares, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Kieran Tierney are expected to start in the Arsenal lineup in front of Ramsdale. The Arsenal defence kept a clean sheet against Leicester City on Sunday but they will have to strive hard to contain an in-form Liverpool side at home.
Midfield
Thomas Partey will partner Granit Xhaka in the middle of the park in the Arsenal lineup. Partey, who scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Leicester, will take a slightly deeper role and protect the backline. The Ghanaian’s presence will allow Xhaka to go forward and join the attacks at times.
If Arsenal are to stop Liverpool from dominating possession for large periods in the game, the duo of Partey and Xhaka will need to be at their best on Wednesday.
Attack
Mikel Arteta is unlikely to disturb his winning combination and stick with the front four that starred in the win over Leicester City, meaning Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Alexandre Lacazette should all start in the Arsenal lineup.
Lacazette, who ended his six-game goal drought on Sunday, should spearhead the attack, while the nimble footwork and flair of Saka and Martinelli down the flanks would keep the visitors’ defence on their toes. Odegaard has been the creative link between the midfield and attack, and the Norwegian must retain his preferred no.10 role against Liverpool.
Eddie Nketiah, as well as, Emile Smith Rowe might get introduced off the bench in the second half if needed.
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