One of British football’s greatest rivalries resumes on Wednesday evening as Arsenal once again lock horns with the most decorated club in the country. Our battles with Liverpool are often memorable and sometimes nothing short of legendary. There are plenty of sub-plots for this one too; the fake positives debacle from earlier in the season; and the recent twists and turns in both the title race; and the battle for the final Champions League spot. It has all the ingredients of another game for the ages.
But before we delve into the context of this particular meeting, lets look at some of the matches from the past that make this such a special fixture. When Arsenal and Liverpool met in the 1950 FA cup final, Liverpool were yet to win the trophy, and this wouldn’t change on the day with the Gunners running out 2-0 winners at Wembley thanks to a brace from Reg Lewis. It was Arsenal’s third triumph in the competition. We’ve won it a few more times since.
Throughout our history, the club has been part of many ‘firsts’ in The Beautiful Game. And this encounter in 1964 was no different as Arsenal and Liverpool played the first ever fixture in English football to be broadcast live on national television. Unfortunately, Arsenal went down 3-2 on this occasion but we’ve played on the telly a few more times since.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was also the ’71 cup final made famous by Charlie George’s winning goal celebration where he lay down on the sun-drenched Wembley turf after giving Arsenal the lead again. It was also half of our first ever league and cup double. The celebration became iconic with school children to the point where it was re-enacted in the playground and it is still replayed at The Emirates on the big screens before every game over fifty years later. I think that’s what you call standing the test of time. Apparently, there was another encounter in May 1989, but I don’t think anything particularly eventful occurred. Just some team winning the league at Anfield on goals scored or something like that. Only joking. Nowadays Sky like to tell us that a football club entirely funded by an oil state beating a ten-man, relegation threatened QPR who employed absolute non-entities like Joey Barton, was more dramatic but anyone who is lucky enough to have the inside knowledge that football did indeed exist before 1992, knows that Anfield ’89 was the culmination of the closest title race in English football history. You had to be there really. Which I wasn’t because I wasn’t born for another twelve years. Incidentally, ClockEndRider had a ticket for the game but being the Negative Nancy that he is, he decided not to bother because you know, as if we were going to win at Anfield by two clear goals. We did.
There have been plenty more great encounters between the two sides and in truth, it was very difficult to choose which games to talk about, but the context of this upcoming meeting is so great it merits examination to the nth degree also. Liverpool sit second in the table behind the Oilers and above the former Oilers. Following Citeh’s goalless draw at Palace Liverpool now have the opportunity to move to within a single point of the champions with the same number of games played. You could argue this will probably make them more fired up for this one which isn’t good news for us given our poor recent record against them. They do give the impression of having a whole host of players who seemingly always score a brace against us. This will be our 4th match up with Liverpool this season and the 3rd of 2022 already. We haven’t managed a goal in any of the previous three so Mikel Arteta will hope that changes on Wednesday. In fairness, Arsenal are not doing too badly ourselves. We currently find our team on an incredible run of form with nine wins in the last eleven matches including all the last five. So, we do at least go into this one with some confidence. In terms of who’s available there doesn’t seem to be any change on that front. Personally, I think we will see the same eleven who strolled past Leicester on Sunday. It doesn’t look like Tomiyasu is particularly close to a recovery and with another international break coming up you sense the club are taking their time with him as he slowly nurses his way back to full fitness. In fairness, Cedric has proved to be excellent back-up but he will face a huge test against one of Mane or Dias on that right hand side. In terms of the Liverpool side, it looks as though they will be more or less full strength. There have been murmurs that Salah may miss out with a foot injury after he limped off in their win at Brighton on Saturday but I would be pretty wary of any wool Liverpool try to pull over our eyes after those fake positives. You’d be shocked if he doesn’t start on Wednesday. Up front it’s likely Jota, who always scores at least a couple against us, will start flanked by Salah and Mane/Dias. Their midfield three will likely be Fabinho, Henderson and Keita. Thiago has struggled with injuries since his big money arrival from Bayern in 2020 and Oxlade Chamberlain is struggling with not being very good at football. The back four will be the Poundland KT on the left, Konate and VVD at the back with Trent Alexander Arnold at right back.
It goes without saying that Liverpool is a world class side, and in my opinion, there isn’t a side in world football that plays a better brand of football than them. Therefore, it will be incredibly difficult to beat them or even just avoid defeat, but I remain confident that we will at the very least be competitive throughout. The players should draw confidence from the City game where we were not only leading the champions for the first hour but dominating them. Hopefully on this occasion the referee doesn’t decide to be the star of the show and Xhaka doesn’t have any brain farts. This game will be a very interesting indicator of just how far we have come in the last few months and all eyes will be on us for this one such is the magnitude of this game. I am going for an optimistic 2-1 victory for the Arsenal.
COYG!!
Thankyou 21CGooner for an amusing and very comprehensive preview . There have been some great matches at our place since we moved from Highbury . The 3-3 draw was a classic but recently they’ve been much too good for us . Last season they won comfortably and in the Carabao Cup they won without Salah and Mane .
I am hugely heartened by the confirmation that Arteta is not only a good tactical coach but a fine team-builder . I’d love a point but I think they might have too much know how and quality . But we will find out a lot about our team tomorrow night and let’s hope what we discover is exciting.
It’s going mad with matches twice a week now, not used to that sort of things…
Must mean another international break is around the corner.
Cheers 21CG.
I’m with TTG on his assessment.
(Obviously the eternal optimist within hopes for a win though).
Thanks 21CG, excellent preview of a game I’ve been looking forward to since we played so well against Shitteh at home, with hopefully a happier ending this time. We’ve been finding ways to score in the recent run with goals shared amongst several and if we can keep that up this time then I can see us getting a result. We will need to be more clinical on the counter than we were against Leicester, but if we can exploit the space behind their full backs then a glorious 3-2 to The Arsenal is my own optimistic shout.
You made me smile a couple of times there, 21CG. Not sure what CER’s reaction will be, though. 🙂
I will take your 2-1 win in a heartbeat, though I would expect my heart will be beating rapidly throughout.
i’m expecting to watch this one from behind the metaphorical couch, but will start in an optimistic mood and lighter of heart than i otherwise would after reading your post, 21cg. thank you.
and have compassion for CER. remember, it’s the hope that kills you. especially away at anfield.
The game away to the former Oilers has been rearranged for 20th April*
* assuming the club has not been folded by then, their stadium knocked down, the directors jailed and the supporters conscripted into the Ukrainian army to learn some new songs
Nice preview but what’s with all the nervous Nellies.
1-0 to the Arsenal and send klippety klopp on his way.
UTA.
Cheers 21CG ! I would love your score prediction to be right. I usually err on the side of optimism with my own forecasts but I’d be very happy with any draw tonight. That would indicate huge progress for us although our performance against Abu Dhabi has already proved that.
The intriguing selection for me is who will start on our left hand side. I would like to see ESR driving us at them as he did against Abu Dhabi with Martinelli to come on when Lacazette almost inevitably tires around 65 minutes. He has been doing a great job and taking a battering for us lately but twice a week is going to be tough for the old boy. That might also seem harsh on Martinelli who has also done very well but this game demands our very best, and ESR as a starter shades it for me.
It’s great to be looking forward to this game again instead of dreading it. Let’s hope the optimism isn’t over inflated. I’ll take a 2-2 draw – with no money on it at all !
An excellent preview, 21CG, bringing historical perspective to this encounter and some lovely memories of previous encounters though the 1950 cup triumph precedes even me. As we declined in recent years the Dippers revived almost in the mirror image of their decline during the emergence of Arsenal as a force after the glorious evening of 26th May 1989. It’s a symmetry almost as if we are linked cars on a funicular.
This match is a true measure of our progress. My only hope is that our team performs to its maximum, avoids silly errors and finishes the match with our morale intact and ready to continue our recent run of fine performances and good results. A draw is very acceptable but I know MA8 wants to win and that would be somewhat orgasmic.
COYG
Excellent previewing 21cg. May our New Year’s performance against City be replicated, prolonged and fashioned into one to remember like the other great matches you cite above.
“ ClockEndRider had a ticket for the game but being the Negative Nancy that he is….”.
Guilty as charged, M’lud. And can I ask for 127 other offences to be taken into consideration…..
Excellent, funky (funky) preview. Thanks 21CG!
I actually fancy our team playing against L’pool.
My favorites apart from the obvious ’89 “up for grab now” are strangly draws. The 4-4 at Anfield when Arshavin scored all our four amazing goals and the 3-3 at the Grove what TTG already mentioned. I will never forget Klopps face when leading 0-2 then 5 minutes later losing 3-2. He was completely lost.
I go for the 2-2 tonight.
COYG
Thanks for the preview 21CG.
As much as I’d love a draw and continue our not losing streak, I’d settle for 3:2 win for the good guys. Come on Arsenal
I “go for” the Arsenal 6-0 but “predict” the rather less ambitious Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1. Still fulfills our current needs quite well. COYG go for it.
Re: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60762296
and particularly the part that says “Throwing objects onto the field of play is against ground regulations and subject to a three year ban.”
I could just be quibbling but in the old days throwing a bottle at someone was a criminal matter, not just something that could prevent you from attending football matches. Maybe times have changed in Manchester.
Excellent preview 21CG, finely demonstrating the positive influence of luminaries like NBN and Trev, in history and humor. 🙂
CER may have a word or two to frown about though. 😂
It would be interesting to see if Mikel simply continues the way we are trying to play — on the front foot, focusing on moving the ball forward quickly — or if he will make significant tactical alterations. Our magnificent home performance against City was a revelation and if we can play with that quality and confidence a win isn’t entirely unlikely.
Hope Saka has recovered from the Leicester game.
Enjoy the match everyone!
bt8 @ 15.
Or maybe there is something to add about ‘bottlers’ (completely random non-finalised thought).
Trev @ 8
It’s great to be looking forward to this game again instead of dreading it. Let’s hope the optimism isn’t over inflated.
Refining what was said earlier, this is where I am too. With the little fear that we could be brought back down crashing to earth (as the match approaches, this fear grows), but even if we are, I am feeling more confident about the reaction now.
COYG!
Trev @8 & Ollie @17, thirded!
COYG!
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette.
Subs: Leno, Smith Rowe, Holding, Pepe, Tavares, Sambi Lokonga, Elneny, Nketiah, Swanson.
No apparent changes even on the bench
I have to say, I’m very surprised to see Salah on the bench. I would expect mane to be on the right so he can commit GBH on Tierney inside 30 seconds and not get a card. Cedric will have to be right on it to stop Dias. Looking forward to seeing what martinelli can do against TAA on the counter. Hopefully this is the night the world finally sees he is better than pele ever was
how nice to see such consistency. let’s see a win. COYG!
Curiously, Salah is benched on the same day these stories came out in the press:
Liverpool’s Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, 29, is not desperate to leave Anfield this summer and could instead depart for free next year when his contract ends. (Fabrizio Romano)
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will not talk to Salah and his agent amid a stand-off over a new deal for the forward. (Mirror)
Of minor importance, as Jota normally scores against us anyway.
Two home wins in the two PL games this evening would be most welcome.
With Klopp able to field a front three of Diaz, Jota and Mane, he doesn’t need to risk aggravating Salah’s injury as we head into the pointy end of the season.
Not sure Martinelli is quite up to the level of Pepe yet, 21cg but if he scores 800 goals I hope they are all in an Arsenal shirt. 😎
Spuds with seagull droppings. Not particularly appetizing fare.
so far so good. partey looking sharp, saka so far the outlet. mø looking good and active.
A blatant dive by Mane goes unpunished
clean tackle by laca on fabinho. never a foul.
stfu, xhaka.
sniveling little cheat, mane.
Gabi can do
Hard to keep the ball but we’re doing great, working very hard.
We’re looking good. COYG
Haha Mane, good to see his cheaty face look unhappy
Booooooooooooooooooooooo
COYGS!
The closest of margins at both ends, a bit of bad luck for us and the opposite at the other end
Lucky SOBs f……ck
Yeah, a double bastard.
We’re still on for my 3:2 hehehe
Would love a goal to break the duck at least
I wish lady luck would be on our side
You cannot speed up the experience, that we lacked a bit.
On another note, Juve got hammered 3:0 at home, with their coveted striker, schadenfreude my friends
Just not quite good enough first half to make chances and score, gifted them two goals in the second.
MA is on the right tack, we NEED a proper striker for next season
This is a very good L’pool team. A 5 minutes laps of concentration cost us the match.
Get off our pitch you goofy bastard.
A fairly weak effort at 47 from me but I didn’t want to swear too badly.
Good support from the crowd till the end and we kept on. On to Villa.
On another day, Ramsdale palms their first around the post, not inside it, and the ball goes out of play for their second, not spin back into the pitch when Saka tries to clear it. Fine margins, but enough for a seasoned side like Liverpool who can then just sit back and see the game out without having to move up through the gears. We had a chance or two but needed a world-class striker to make something of them. A disappointing result, especially as we played well enough, pace the goals, for a draw, but not one that is cause for despair.
Overall, I don’t think we learned anything we did not know about how much progress we’ve made this season. Four losses in four games against Liverpool this season without scoring a goal scored makes it pretty plain that we are not yet a top-three side, but are we top four?
That was a great performance barring Ødegaard’s failure to finish that gift, a wandering RB followed by a basic goalkeeping error and a really unlucky bounce on Saka’s clearance up the line. We went toe to toe with one of the best teams in Europe and gave them a tough game. With a little bit of luck we would have got something out of that game. We can be proud of this team.
A world class striker would transform this team and its fortunes. A left sided midfielder who doesn’t turn like a battleship and who has an eye for goal would complete the transformation and make us challengers.
Chins up, Gooners. Lets give Villa a doing.
Well said, Bath. That is now two games against two of the top sides in Europe that we have lost despite playing well. In a couple of seasons’ time, this side will be battle-hardened and know how to win those sorts of games as routine, just as City and ‘Pool do now.
Villa’s the one we all know we need. COYG
What the previous people said.
We’ve come a long way.
Agree with all above, and Bath at 51 says it all. From the ground what was noticeable was the way the crowd stayed with the team after we went 2-0 down. There was an initial feeling of “well that’s it” even though there was still half an hour to play. But that only lasted a couple of minutes then the chanting resumed. Loads stayed to cheer the team off with deafening chants of “Arsenal, Arsenal”. A grizzled veteran in the row in front of me, who I’ve been on nodding terms with for a decade, turned round at the end and said to me, “I haven’t been as excited about our team since the invincibles. Eighteen months time we’re going to be right there or there about.” Which kind of sums up the feeling on the terraces right now.
A word on Liverpool. I’ve been at three of our four defeats against them this season. They are a magnificent team, at the back, in transition and up front. All four competitions is not beyond them this season.
Let’s NOT have Liverpool anywhere near a bloody quadruple, we’d never hear the end of it.
Villareal for the Champions League! Le Coq and Emery to fly the ex-Arsenal flag.
Ollie@56: Amen to that. As C100 says, they are a magnificent team, particularly the 1st XI, but I hope they lack the depth to last in four competitions.
I echo was C100 said @55 above. The atmosphere in the ground was fabulous. The bar at Block 10 was buzzing before and after and the younger crowd we have noted on a number of occasions this season was in great voice. The general feeling was very much that we need 1 more season and then we will be genuinely competitive. After some lows, the attitude in and around the ground is very much that we’re on the way back.
>>>>>>>