Liverpool can deal Arsenal a large blow within the Premier League title race this weekend, however how assured are Gunners supporters feeling?
The Reds make the journey to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon, in what is likely one of the largest video games of the season to date.
Arsenal‘s 2-0 loss at Bournemouth final Saturday means they’ve misplaced floor on each Liverpool and Man Metropolis, so the stress has been cranked up.
This will likely be Arne Slot‘s largest check but as Reds head coach, nevertheless, and coming away with a constructive results of some form would really feel vital.
Forward of Sunday’s match, we spoke to Arsenal fan and award-winning illustrator and picturebook creator Matty Lengthy (@Matty_Long) to debate an enormous sport within the title race, referee ‘conspiracies’ and extra.
How would you assess Arsenal’s season to date?
Arsenal‘s season has been a bit messy and disjointed, actually in comparison with the final couple of seasons.
That stated, given the circumstances – accidents, suspensions and hard fixtures – it’s nearly superb.
Does the crew really feel as sturdy as ever?
It’s onerous to say sure to that once we appear to have gamers going off injured or red-carded in each sport.
We’re presently with out our captain, Martin Odegaard, and we’re left guessing as to when Bukayo Saka is perhaps again.
Jurrien Timber began the season brilliantly however he too seems to be injured, together with Riccardo Calafiori from the Champions League sport on Tuesday.
I might say these disruptions, together with suspensions and a tricky early fixture record, haven’t seen us construct any type of momentum.
Have there been any standout performers? Who has struggled?
It’s most likely no shock that our greatest participant has been Saka, who has made 9 objective contributions in seven Premier League video games he’s performed on this season.
An honourable point out for Kai Havertz, although, whose all-round sport now feels important to this crew.
I’m involved by our backup attackers in Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, who merely haven’t contributed sufficient within the minutes they’ve performed.
What’s your tackle the purple card scenario? Is there a ‘conspiracy’?
There’s no conspiracy however the threshold for the purple playing cards we’ve earned this season has been extremely low.
It’s onerous to be advised it’s ‘letter of the regulation’ and that the referee ‘had no selection’ when different related cases are dealt with much less harshly and with extra widespread sense.
It really works each methods, although, and Arsenal should be smarter and never give the referee the highlight they appear to get pleasure from increasingly nowadays.
How do you fee Liverpool’s begin to the marketing campaign?
Superb total, barring the blip in opposition to a Nottingham Forest facet who may need a bit about them this season.
I believe Liverpool followers ought to be actually happy, contemplating the managerial change and lack of latest recruits in the summertime.
What do you consider Arne Slot?
Slot appears to have are available and acquired Liverpool taking part in his means with out a lot fuss.
They play with a great deal of management and consciousness, in addition to attacking intent.
Just like the Dutchman’s head, they appear quite polished, and you’ll’t actually knock the supervisor to date.
What are your greatest and worst reminiscence from Arsenal-Liverpool video games?
Our 5-1 defeat at Anfield again within the 2013/14 season might be essentially the most painful I can bear in mind.
However the 4-1 win for Arsenal on the Emirates will get me all dewy-eyed, with Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud all scoring excellent strikes.
The place do you see the important thing battles going down?
Calafiori hobbling off in opposition to Shakhtar Donetsk means it could possibly be Oleksandr Zinchenko – he has barely featured this season – up in opposition to Mo Salah at left-back.
It may even be 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly there, however maybe probably is Jakub Kiwior, contemporary from his terrible backpass in opposition to Bournemouth!
We’re additionally with out William Saliba by suspension, so hopefully Ben White can fill in at centre-back.
Additional ahead, I’m involved about our means to create and rating possibilities with out our two attacking linchpins of Odegaard and Saka, ought to they each be out.
Lastly, hit us together with your prediction…
I’m not assured about this one.
I’m hopeful we are able to elevate our sport regardless of the circumstances, although, so I’ll say Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool.
* Matty’s e-book collection, Tremendous Joyful Magic Forest, has been tailored right into a TV present on CBBC, and might be watched on BBC iPlayer right here.
