{"id":11762,"date":"2025-08-30T11:48:31","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T10:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=11762"},"modified":"2025-09-01T11:53:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T10:53:28","slug":"time-to-win-at-anfield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=11762","title":{"rendered":"Time to Win at Anfield?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Gabi M, who has played in 21 games of our 22-match unbeaten run against \u2018Big Six\u2019, celebrating a goal against Liverpool in 2024. Image courtesy of Arsenal.com and Matthew Dingle.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With the greatest respect, as always, to the White & Red Rose opposition beaten in our opening two games of the season our first serious test of this fledgling season comes at Anfield this Sunday. We all know it\u2019s necessary to take out the trash effectively to win this league, but Liverpool are a decent side, they possess a very dangerous attack and were entirely deserved title-winners last season. A tough game awaits and there is much talk in the press of our not having won at Anfield since 2012 (though much less of our not having lost to any of the so-called Big 6 in the league since April 2023, a quite remarkable run) and whilst it will not be in any way conclusive should either side win, it is also true that an away win would be a mighty fine boost for Mikel and his newly revamped Merry Men. And talking of newly revamped\u2026\u2026\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transfer News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest acquisition by Andrea \u201che buys who he wants\u201d Berta was confirmed by our favourite ITK journo, Mr Ornstein, last night.  It has truly been a divine summer \u2013 \u2018It\u2019s Raining Men\u2019 is just about right \u2013 and our latest \u2018Holic warm welcome is to Piero Hincapie, once of Leverkusen & Ecuador but for this season at least, and possibly several more, our first Ecuadorian Gooner [you\u2019re just guessing that aren\u2019t you? Ed.<\/em>]. The deal has been described as a season-long loan with an option to buy for 52m in total. It is unwise to speculate on the structure of a deal when you have no information but I am assuming it is related to a desire to keep the costs off the books until next season rather than any doubts about Hincapie as such. He will provide more competition \/ depth on that left-side of the defence for Big Gabby, Cala and MLS I imagine. One thing I am sure of is that even with the inevitable injuries it is going to be a mighty struggle to get in and stay in this Arsenal side. There will be rotation of course but even so the competition is now the fiercest that I can remember. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

OUTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the transfer window closing shortly, the narrative in the press has recently been around the fact that there have been many transfers in and no transfers out this summer \u2013 conveniently ignoring the actual departures of KT3, Partey, Jorginho and Tomi of course as well as the loan ends for Sterling and Neto. We had an opportunity to replace those six players in the squad and take a significant step forward in quality and we have taken it and then some. Of course there are the usual laments of Why, Oh Why Can\u2019t Arsenal Sell Players? etc etc ad tedium<\/s> nauseam, which for those of you whose Latin is a little rusty means \u201cuntil OM is sick and tired of it\u201d [er\u2026. No, not exactly, Ed.].<\/em>  However, it is also fair to say that the club is keen to sell several of the current fringe – Kiwior on loan to Porto for \u203925m with an obligation (not option \ud83d\ude0a) to buy and Zinny to Marseille are the latest stories. Additionally, I think it is no secret we would like to move Reiss Nelson, Sambi and Vieira to pastures new. Much to be done and little time to do it. But if Mr Berta is light enough on his feet to get deals done for those five players then our squad will be around 24 plus Max Dowman.  That seems about the right number in these new and wondrous times. One not leaving according to Mikel is Gabriel Martinelli, who is \u201csuper important\u201d for the future. Or \u201cvery, very, very important\u201d as I also found reported. I have decided to take that statement at face value \u2013 always risky in football! One confirmed loan announced by the club was Ismael Kabia, fairly regular on the bench last season with a solitary pitch appearance against Bolton in the Carabao. The best of luck to Ismael for his season-long sojourn to Shrewsbury Town in League Two. I cannot tell you much about Shrewsbury I\u2019m afraid, though I did once go on holiday to Brittany with a girl from Shrewsbury and she said it was a nice little town.  On then to the walking wounded\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Injury News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The little flies in our 6-point ointment to start the season have undoubtedly been injuries. MA, not unreasonably, was as vague as ever on injury news and it is not always easy these days to get clear information even if you\u2019re on the very short list of journalists in the know at The Arsenal but for what it\u2019s worth the latest news seems to be\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kai Havertz \u2013 <\/strong>probably back mid-November all being well<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bukayo Saka \u2013 <\/strong>probably good to go after the interlull, not available at Anfield<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martin \u00d8degaard, Ben White & Christian N\u00f8rgaard <\/strong>are all doubtful.  They do sometimes play of course in these situations but, like Arne Slot, I hope, I have no idea of the likelihood and haven\u2019t considered them for the XI below<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leo Trossard \u2013 <\/strong>No mention, but also rumoured to be carrying a knock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabriel Jes\u00fas \u2013 <\/strong>running around, but no estimated return date<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s our starting XI then?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, we have avoided the 2nd<\/sup> round of the Carabao Cup. Sorry, but I have to digress for some gentle mockery at this point – Manure renaissance my arse hahahaha! Amorim reportedly hates his players, and yes, he means you Ratface and your crimbo chum Hairy McGrievousBodilyHarm. Don\u2019t worry Reuben you\u2019re not alone, no else likes them either mate! Anyway, we have had a full week to work together and prepare for this game (as have Liverpool). Does that full week mean a start for Eberechi? Given our injury situation there will likely need to be at least two changes to the XI that started at home to Leeds last weekend and I think that makes it more probable that we will see him on the bench for this one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timber Saliba Gabriel Lewis-Skelly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zubi Nwaneri Rice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madueke Gy\u00f6keres Martinelli<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just my guess of course but I think Eze will be kept back for the 2nd<\/sup> half if needed and Gabi M preferred to start in what may be our toughest away game of the season. I also believe MLS to be a better match-up with Salah on the right than Cala. Of course, Mikel may decide to stick with a defence that has not let a goal in for about 200 minutes so far this season and proven a significant set-piece threat, an area we may be able to exploit again this week. Whoever plays let`s hope that clean sheet is about 300 minutes by the end of the game!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Opposition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am sure you have read about Liverpool\u2019s attacking reinforcements and their bright start to the season. Fortunately, they have not yet signed Isak but there is no doubt that Ekitike, Salah, Gakpo, Wirtz et al<\/em> represent a serious threat to any defence in the world and we are certainly going to have our work cut out to maintain that classically shaped 0 in our goals against column. However, there has also been some encouragement from Liverpool\u2019s defensive commitment \u2013 or lack of it \u2013 in both pre-season and the first two league games. Konate has looked wobbly, Van Dijk clay-footed, and Kerkez weak to my own eyes. It certainly doesn\u2019t look like a defence that will keep us out in open play or at set pieces for 90 minutes. So far this season Liverpool have started with the above-mentioned front four, with Curtis Jones and Gravenberch behind them in midfield last week. However, it seems that McAllister, who was off games last week, is fit again and likely to return. Frimpong, their new right-back was also out last week and will according to reports be out again this time, Szoboszlai deputised, out of position, at Newcastle last week but I wonder if Slot will continue that experiment as it didn\u2019t look too good to my untutored eye. Whichever square peg is inserted, it is an area we can exploit.  Ideally, we can get our wingers in behind and running at VVD \/ Konate, in particular an on-form Madueke will be a serious problem for them. If Noni can get enough defenders committed to stopping him it should enable Gy\u00f6keres \/ Ethan to pick a pocket or two.  I am sure Mikel knows full well how they will play and how well Slot has got them scrapping until the end \u2013 when asked what this team needs to do that other Arsenal sides haven\u2019t since our last win 2012 he replied \u201cplay better\u201d. Sound advice that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Score<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had wanted to talk about our Carabao Cup draw (away at Port Vale) and our CL octet of opponents but the prolific Mr Berta put paid to that idea! In the circumstances I will have to leave those largely favourable draws to another day and come without further ado to a forecast. Who will triumph in this 245th<\/sup> meeting of the two sides? Will Liverpool record their first league win against us since 2022? Will our net remain virginal? Can we exploit their defence? The Arsenal, No, Yes and Yes is my bet \u2013 2-0 to The Arsenal on Merseyside. What more is there to be said? Oh yes, goals for Viktor & Big Gabby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a big game folks, a pleasure to be in it and it\u2019s only the first of many this season I suspect. I hope you will all enjoy it wherever you may be. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the greatest respect, as always, to the White & Red Rose opposition beaten in our opening two games of the season our first serious test of this fledgling season comes at Anfield this Sunday. We all know it\u2019s necessary to take out the trash effectively to win this league, but Liverpool are a decent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11762"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11762"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11762\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11796,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11762\/revisions\/11796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}