Arsenal’s third league fixture of the new season will be hosting Liverpool at the Emirates on Monday evening, after a confidence boosting, hard-fought win away at Selhurt Park. Wenger’s men will be looking to continue building momentum by defeating a side, who they thrashed convincingly in last season’s corresponding fixture.
Team News
Arsenal’s team will see no major changes ahead of Monday night’s clash, with everyone who was in the squad for the trip to Crystal Palace available for team selection. Long-term absentees Jack Wilshere (ankle), Danny Welbeck (knee) and Tomas Rosicky (knee) of course remain sidelined.
Arsene Wenger revealed that both Wilshere and Welbeck will be available again after the international break, with both players missing England’s European Qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland next month, whilst Rosicky will be out of action for much longer.
Liverpool will sweat over the fitness of midfielder Jordan Henderson, who was substituted during their victory over Bournemouth on Monday, after struggling with a troublesome foot injury. Like Henderson, Joe Allen’s inclusion remains in the balance with the midfield nursing a hamstring injury.
Striker Daniel Sturridge (hip) and defendeer Jon Flanagan (knee) remain sidelined.
Predicted Line-Ups
The same team who defeated Palace is expected to remain Arsenal’s line-up, with Petr Cech expected to retain his place in goal, looking to build an improved relationship with the same back four. The middle of the pack will also see the same two deep lying midfielders (Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin), with Mesut Ozil deployed in behind the striker.
It’s trickier to predict who will start on the wings but I have a feeling we’ll see Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez, start this one, with Giroud leading the attack.
Brendan Rodgers may be forced to change his midfield given Henderson’s injury. This will see Emre Can partner James Milner instead. Again though not a lot of changes are expected from Liverpool’s squad.
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ozil, Walcott, Alexis, Giroud
Bench: Ospina, Gabriel, Gibbs, Chambers, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Can, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Ibe, Benteke
Bench: Bogdan, Toure, Henderson, Firmino, Markovic, Origi, Ings