Arsenal will welcome top four rivals Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, in matchweek 11 of the 2018-19 Premier League.
Arsenal’s 13-game unbeaten streak across all competitions will be under a serious threat this weekend when they face off against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at home.
After early season defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea, the Gunners have recovered brilliantly under Unai Emery, winning twelve of their last thirteen fixtures in all competitions. Currently fourth in the Premier League standings, four points behind top two teams City and Liverpool, Arsenal will be hoping to reduce the gap at the top with a win this weekend.
Emery faces selection conundrums in a multitude of positions for Saturday’s encounter, starting with the goalkeeping spot with Petr Cech and Bernd Leno competing for a spot in the lineup.
Speaking of the goalkeeping situation at the club in his pre-match press conference, the Spaniard said: “I am very happy with both and my decision is clear and easy. If I choose one, it’s perfect, but if I choose the other, it’s also perfect.”
Cech is likely to get the nod ahead of the German though, due to his superior experience in these high-pressure games. Arsenal have some major problems in the full-back department with Hector Bellerin likely to miss out with a muscle problem, while Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac are yet to return to full fitness after their injury layoffs.
“Yes, but we are playing a lot of matches: Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday. Today, we are going to do the last training with the players. There are doubts but we are going to wait to see if we can use one or another player in the full-back positions. But if they cannot play we are going to play another player,” the manager said when asked about the injury issues.
With Bellerin doubtful, Stephan Lichtsteiner is expected to start at right-back, while midfielder Granit Xhaka will once again deputize as the left-back for the Gunners. Sokratis Papastahopoulos and Konstantinos Mavropanos are also injury doubts, meaning Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding are set to get the nod in the heart of the defence.
Summer signing Lucas Torreira has become a key cog in the midfield engine room and will start against Liverpool on Saturday. Matteo Guendouzi is suspended for the Gunners, after being sent off in the midweek encounter against Blackpool. Aaron Ramsey, who continues to be linked with a January exit, will step into the midfield in place of the youngster.
Alex Iwobi has been in impressive form of late for the North London outfit and should continue to feature on the right flank. Mesut Ozil, who was rested for the cup tie against Blackpool, should walk back into the team in the central attacking midfield role.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been in scintillating form for the Gunners, scoring six goals in his last four Premier League appearances. He is a guaranteed starter on the left side against Liverpool, with partner-in-crime Alexandre Lacazette set to spearhead the attack for the home team.
