Line-ups are out and we’re ready to host some real competition at Ashburton Grove. Whaddayathink?
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Cech, Ramsey, Lichtsteiner, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Welbeck, Smith-Rowe.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Origi, Matip.
Personally, I like it, even if it leaves us with not-so-much in the way of goal scoring threat if we need to score in the latter stages. If Bellerin and Kolasinac are at full fitness I’d think we can stretch the pitch-both forward and wide–allowing our visionaries, Ozil and Mkhitaryan, to create some space for chances for our 100+ million pounds of strikers.
Those chances may be few and far between as I expect Klopp to be thinking about defending first. His attack is potent too. So, I’m thinking more of a chess-match than a goal-fest. But, as always, we. shall. see.
Unai Emery turns 47 today and a victory over Liverpool would be a very, very sweet birthday present.
I’ll be trying to describe it all in the comments. Please join me as your eyes are at least as good as mine. And don’t be shy, tell it as you see it.
Go on then…
by 17highburyterrace
Bergkampesque 
Looking at the subs bench. Might it not been prudent to carry Julio Pleguezuelo today? Guessing Lichtsteiner at CB in an emergency? Thought JP played quite well midweek.
jw1
Cheers, J-dub for moving over here to the new post…
Mustafi starts (Sok not fit enough, it appears…) so that must be filling you with, er, less than full confidence?…
Here’s what I expect… both teams not taking too many chances in MF and quite a bit of playing big balls out from deep and then hoping for good bounces–and pounces… First goal, of course, is massive…
Don’t make me quote Rumsfeld HT 😉
jw1
Quote away? Something about shock and awe?…
Why won’t the other folks join us over here?…
Moment of silence… Well observed…
We have kickoff…
I’m with you guys too. Just looking after two boys at the same time I time. And they aren’t too into football sadly. They need to come first. But I will be checking in as we go.
Nice takeaway in the corner by PEA but his cross cannot find Ozil…
Mkhi will help Ozil stifle the midfield and allow Bellerin dart up and down the right. Auba to do same for Kola, but a bit less so. We need to start on the front foot, methinks. Scare the scousers a bit.
Auba just offside from an Ozil lay on.
Excellent AB, though they should get their priorities straight… 😀
Ball with Arsenal and just some stroking it around in our half… PEA and Ozil almost combine for a 1v1 against Allison…but the flag goes up…
Kola has gone on one of his runs and his whipped cross may just have caught Laca by surprise as the keeper got their before him.
Wow, we’re looking dominant down the left, this time, Allison is lucky to find some velcro on the ball after Kola crosses it for Laca to flick in at the near post…
Down our end, Mustafi times a tackle on Firmino quite well…
Holding has to head behind and out for the first corner of the match…
Loved how Rob Holding has stayed with Firminho for that cross, snuffing out the danger.
Hey Eris, thanks for helping out with the commentary…
Pool now getting on the front foot but we’re up to it thus far….
When you make Pool’s front 3 run back toward their goal to defend– those are steps they don’t have in attack later.
jw1
Lee Dixon ready to prove his “neutrality” with his comments… To me, it seems he really hates his former club…
Auba offside again…
Torriera gives one away but we survive the quick move, Salah back to Wijnaldum but he pops it out for a Leno GK…
So far Kola expressing himself to Salah.
jw1
Xhaka now boots one out instead of finding Kola… Deep MF is probably a battle we shouldn’t attempt…
Fabinho well too long with a pass from the center circle…
Leno and Mustafi trade (pointless) passes before a longer boot…and, it’s back with Pool…
We get it at LT11 but lose it at Mkhi…
Aggressive defending by Bellerin affording a quick chance taken by Laca into the side netting.
jw1
Milner to nobody and it’s back with Leno…
Mustafi hobbling around but now seems OK…
A Leno boot…ends up back with Pool…
Side netting! Bells intercepts shuffles to Xhaka whose pass is dummied by Ozil but PEA only hits the outside of the net…
Neat corner routine but the shot is only dribbled in…
We’re on top for the moment….
Again Mkhi with a tall order making contact on a header from Auba– wide– but Mkhi called offside.
jw1
More good work on the left and Auba’s cross finds Mkhi’s head with Allison coming out… Just wide off his head…
Pool move the ball out of their half with Arsenal pulled well out of shape…but, we recover and they have to build again against set lines…
Offside called but the ball’s in our net and the high line looked brutally exposed there… That will be a worry…
Mane gets the ball into the net, against the run of play, but it’s ruled offside, quite fortitutiously on our part, because he seemed in line by the second stage of the play.
Holding too strong for Kola and into touch…
Replay shows that only Mane was offside so we’re very lucky that Firmino hit woodwork…
That’s the warning for us right there, but I’d rather we kept up the pressure and not relent. The only chance we have of getting the win, in my view.
Good work by Holding to nip in ahead of Firmino after Salah’s knock down…
Not many breaks in play thus far. Conditioning may well be a determinant overall.
jw1
Wow… Holding roached by Salah way up field and the Egyptian is off to the races… Xhaka times his box tackle to perfection and only concedes a corner…which we clear…
Scary…
And scarier, with Leno saving at point black from Van Djik….
Mustafi cleaning up his mess– off the line– after Leno saves point-blank.
jw1
These are good Liverpool chances but we’re making the plays we must…
And another that falls to Robertson but the shot is low and straight and Leno is down to it for the save…
Other end and we’ve got a little attack with Laca tapping out and Bells trying to smash one from distance…Well wide…
Commentators saying that PGMOL say the goal should’ve stood… Ah well, so it goes…
Pool look well on top but good work from Salah ends with a ballooned ball and another Leno GK…
They are targeting our left side. Need support for Kola
Kola with another pinging ball on a cutback– and Mkhi gets another hard-to-handle ball front of goal.
jw1
Agreed on priorities HT. I blame the in-laws. Why would boys follow football when one side of the family are spuds?! I’m listening in occasionally. I seem to be getting all the nervous moments as the narrative above is quite hopeful. My nerves haven’t eased one iota yet.
More attack from our left side… Kola’s cross is saved into Mkhi’s path but he can’t get a good swing on it back towards goal…
Marriner not calling anything after brave work from Torrierra and Mkhi… Whichever group turns cynical may gain an edge if the ref won’t blow…
Half an hour played and both keepers have been called into action…
Nice move from the back and a Mkhi backheel sets up Auba but his shot is deflected behind for a corner…
Taken short and we have another blast blocked, this one by Lacazette….
Pool always dangerous on the counter but we’re challenging sufficiently in MF….
There’s an edge to this match physically that is begging for one side to take advantage of the other’s aggressiveness. Surprised there hasn’t been a score yet.
jw1
Laca almost plays one outside of the foot forward to PEA but Allison is lively, rushing out to boot it clear…
A bit of calm after a lot of quick action…
Marriner has allowed Kola to open-handed-shove Salah twice on balls headed near the two.
jw1
Agreed, J-dub… Both teams want to pounce and risk some contact in making it happen…
Some good tight play and we win the ball on our left again…before swinging it around to Bellerin in space. Comes to nothing, in the end, unfortunately…
Ozil takes a ball off Fabinho…looked like defending to me….
There’s a whistle…and from it Bellerin and Lacazette almost pin the ball in the box… Pool clearing somewhat desperately…
Bit too much loft on a cross by Ozil — Auba loops it high.
jw1
We score. We’re also offside.
jw1
Wowsa… That’s some creativity off the heel of Ozil. Laca’s shot is from a tough angle and it’s just outside of the post…
We’re on top now…Ugh… FK is in their net but Mustafi was fractionally offside before he headed across to Lacazette…
We’re pushing it back at them with some degree of relentlessness, Mkhi doing some good work both central and wide…
He’s offside there, however, Mkhi that is…
The half is winding down and a goal now–for either side–would be a big blow…
Pool get some possession but we defend well enough… From Leno’s hands Xhaka gets it but puts it into touch feeling more pressure than there perhaps was…
Almost prescient HT.
jw1
Milner fouled and they loft one in… Leno is nowhere near it as he leaves his line…
It looks a sure goal but hits the post…
Half-time… comes with a MASSIVE let off…
We treat this sport as if results tell us the truth… If that half proves anything, I’d say it’s that LUCK is quite an element…
But, let’s hear what y’all have to say…
Well played lads, other than a couple of brain farts, we are doing pretty well. Hope I don’t live to regret this, but Mustaphi has been great IMHO.
Funny comment from the BT sport commentator. They focused a camera on Emery and the guy makes all the tackles, heads the balls and is all over the place… I think they suggested we play better in the 2nd half because Emery has worn himself out. Gotta chuckle.
Auba is looking good today, think he might grab the winner.
kola is good going forward , but unless he gets support at the back, we could be in trouble.
It’s been frenetic and hard to keep up with posting and watching. We are doing exactly what we should be doing but, I had so feared our reputedly suspect defending that I was willing to accept a “contain and counter” policy. I will never doubt the desire of the players and the mind set created in them by Unai Emery. I have been impressed with everyone; Granit Xhaka is probably bossed it this half and all that was missing was the net bulging. Of course, there were disallowed goals for both sides with the one we conceded the more disputable call by the Ref.
Looking at Liverpool’s bench, there’s nothing to scare us there, so expect them to continue with this selection and bring on Xhakiri sometime soon, before trying Sturridge for Firminho. We can call on Iwobi, Welbeck or Ramsey,
Well done, keeping this up, 17ht. Enjoying it.
“Ozil takes a ball off Fabinho…looked like defending to me….” – 17ht.
Well, Touché.
Eris–
It’ll be Shaqiri– who has been ‘on it’ of late, that’ll worry me.
Of the halftime stats– even– where we have 58% possession. The weird one is 3 fouls apiece– where that number could have been called every 5 minutes.
And retsub– No. 20 has been ‘great’ with the exception of allowing the largest mammal on the field to run right by him twice for 1v1s with Leno. Sorry.
jw1
Nice halftime comments, Retsub and Eris… Cheers…
We’re off with the 2nd period… A long one to PEA not quite controlled…
And wide one between Germans also too strong and into touch…
Yeah, Retsub, I don’t see J-dub quite ready to bail out this particular “talented idiot” anytime soon…
Fabinho crunches Laca… Whistle but not a hint of a card…
Too long for Kola who can only save into touch…
Marriner uses a whistle to help Pool work an attack… Salah nifty but still blocked at the point and they’re forced back to build again…
Mkhi stays onside but can’t slide it over to PEA, trying a cut-back instead…
Fabinho rides Torriera into the turf…Whistle and a card (finally)…
Takes a knee to Laca’s groin and a forearm to Torreira’s head to draw a YC for Fabinho.
jw1
The FK is curled in but Mustafi’s header is wide and from an offside position…
We keep it in their half and Ozil has room to cross after good work from Xhaka. It bounces around but we can’t quite make something nice from Mkhi heading down to Laca in a good but wide-ish spot…
So then– who WAS responsible for VanDijk HT? Leno I suppose? FFS.
jw1
More of the match is being played in their half, this time with Mkhi corralling Robertson to give it away to LT… A corner is won… but cleared after Bells can’t quite spin it around to find a shot…
Holding and Leno combine to hold the ball after Salah and Firmino do good work to fashion a threat…
Other end, Bells forces Robertson to grab at him and give away a corner…
It’s ballooned by Xhaka but we keep it in their half, Kola crossing with style but not quite past the last Pool head… We build again…
Xhaka flattens Mane with an extended elbow– no foul– our throw.
Another foray forward Auba offiside. 6 I think?
jw1
0-1, Liverpool. Leno has come out to punch straight at Milner who smashed it in.
PEA onto another Ozil flick but flagged off…
Oh crap… Leno blocks the cross into Milner’s path and we’re dwon a goal…
Over to you J-dub… 😦
Do we have it in us to fight back? We’ve shown mettle so far, so why not? It was against the run of play, after all.
Mustafi was rounded too easily, surely…
Torreira has stung Allison’s palms there. Good reaction.
LT, with his passes being guarded shoots too central and Allison saves over…
Corner taken short… Two Pool guys hit their heads trying to defend against Mustafi…
Clash of heads. Two Liverpool players down and game had to be stopped with us in possession. Milner is one of the players down.
Really looked forward to the win today. We have deserved it. But, that’s not the way the world works.
A break in the action with the traveling support making plenty of noise as their guys have their noggins attended to…
Their goal scorer, Milner looks pretty beaten up by his own teammate, Gomez…
No HT– actually Mustafi did his best against a quicker player– and was beaten by talent. I have no issue when that happens. But when he stands stock still and allows a 6’4″ CB to run by him– twice– he deserves stick.
Have a lovely rest of the match HT.
jw1
Iwobi on for Mkhi…
Have I run J-Dub off?…
Sorta like Salah (offsides no?) but his cross is just out of Mane’s reach…
From the corner Firmino, with Bellerin just grabbing an arm, heads wide…
That’s a pair of let-offs so game (still) on…
Sorry J-dub, and I really don’t mean to give you too much hassle… And, I’d prefer you to stick around for our come-back…
Rambo to come on…
PEA off…
Bells can’t quite keep the ball and Robertson does well to set Pool forward… Holding kicks behind for a corner…
VVD point black header is pushed over by Leno…
We’re just hanging on now…
Mustafi clears the next one but only into touch and it’s really all Pool right now… Holding heads the next ball in for Leno to grab… We need some of the ball.
Whoa, that was nice by Iwobi on the left to get a cross but Ozil needs to go with his head there instead of his feet, probably, at the near post…
Ozil offside and more time running down…
Iwobi industrious on the left and Kola again crosses…Nobody near this one, however…
We keep it in, but can’t penetrate down the right this time…
We’re doing better now, Kola again in space…deflected this time… And again, but just over the end line before pulling a lofted ball to Ozil, whose technique on the volley is perfect. In the net but all academic…
Welbeck on for Kolasinac. Means Emery is going for it risking a 2-0 scoreline. But, why not if it’s still 3 points at stake?
Laca scores a great goal there. 1-1.
LACAZETTE!!!!!!
Laca is real class.
Iwobi pushed the ball forward and slide-ruled a pass for Laca… Allison comes and forces him wide where he spins and fires and places it…
To PERFECTION…
You know, that’s quite some goal by Lacazette there. He needed to be very composed to curl that past a sea of players and the keeper. Now, we have to defend a corner after Laca is shown a yellow for his celebration. Fans baying for more.
Other end, Mane in space shoots wide… deflected out for a corner?…
Salah in space but his curler is both high and wide…
Laca, working hard, keeps the ball for us… He and Iwobi dovetailing nicely…
The diagonal into Welbs is whistled for handball…
The goal has given us some energy but clearly we need to be careful not to allow too much by way of Pool’s counter…
Wow… Good work from Iwobi, Welbeck and Laca to build an attack and find guys in space…including Bells who feels he must shoot with his left foot…which melts like chocolate….
Pool countering but Robertson’s cross is headed out by Xhaka…
Both teams seem to want the full points…
We’re in their half now but Iwobi can’t pass it into Welbz then Xhaka (maybe?) hits too hard for Allison to set Pool the other way…
LT with cramp gives the game a breather…
5 mins of extra time…
Fabinho fouls LT (again) but no 2nd yellow…
2 of the 5 now played…
Salah in space can’t nutmeg Holding… Very important intervention there…
Salah coming off for the defender Matip…
Last chance saloon… and Xhaka kicks into touch and is acting hurt…
The 5 have been played…
Well done lsds great effort,. -each and everyone of you
There’s the whistle… finishes a draw…
A kinetic (if not frenetic) match…with both teams playing hard, ready to make things happen quickly… Super quality from hardworking Lacazette for the leveler…
I’m sad that J-Dub bowed out here on the live-blog… I really didn’t mean any harm… And, since I don’t have my own microscope on the player in question, I’m surely in the wrong here… Sorry…
Pity our second goal didn’t come and i would say that we deserved another goal.
Ozil wasn’t at his best and if we had our scoring boots on i think we will win this.
The game was a midfield battle which we won and the lower teams will see this as an opportunity to beat Liv if they get their midfield and defense right.
Holding and Mustafi was superb today. Couldn’t ask for more.
A very hard fought and well deserved point. We can have no complaints with that.
Well, we’ve RE-written some history, as Emery required. None of Mane, Firminho or Salah has scored against us today. The talk is whether Arsenal of a few years back would have clawed something back. What they should ask whether Liverpool of years back would even have played us to that point of going ahead at the Emirates.
Torreira has fully announced himself to the EPL, while Xhaka has shone as well. Auba put in the work and was a threat, but it was Laca who’s scored a worldie even as Ozil stood up to the challenge too. That arm band has worked a treat you know. Mustafi and Holding did so well too. Liverpool were good value for the draw but it would have been different if we went ahead. Good game for the neutrals.
The scoreline today is … we are a top 4 team.
It’s innocence lost now, for Emery and the lads.
Wow what a amazing game, loved the attitude of the lads today. Lacca’ goal was a sweet strike, must admit I thought he’d be subbed rather than Auba, Emery really knows who and when to make changes Iwobi assist was so calm. Holding has shown his Chelsea cup final form tonight. The atmosphere in Emirates was Electric tonight. Torreira is our main man I say🤓
Hm.. we got knocked to 5th, after spuds won.
The loss of 4 points in the last 2 games did do something to our title hopes, but with only 11 games played it seems like we can manage something to get above spuds in the end.
MoTM is Torreira. Never say die attitude and made liv’s midfield look amateur.
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