Arsenal travel to Anfield tomorrow determined to get revenge for a humiliating 5-1 thrashing they took from Liverpool last season. Andy Gray and Richard Keys, who front beIN Sports’ EPL coverage, discuss Arsenal’s season and how they see this game going.
Andy Gray: The Gunners have had an indifferent first half of the season. There has been a lot of talk about Arsenal need this and need that but all they are lacking at the moment is a quality centre-back and and maybe a holding midfield player, someone like Nemanja Matic at Chelsea or Yaya Toure at Man City. They need more physicality to give them an extra edge.
Currently, most of their players are physically identical; Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez – all five feet, 10 inches to six feet tall. They need a colossus.
Unfortunately, it won’t be easy to find a great centre-back in the January transfer window because those worth buying are already with big clubs and have probably played in the Champions League. If he brings one in it has to be purely for the league. Wenger has always had that problem which is why he never likes buying in January but if he could find a top player in that mould it would at the very least help cement their place in the top four, which is where I am sure they will finish.
Arsenal have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League and are two points off the top four in the EPL which has always been Wenger’s minimum requirement, so it is beginning to look like a great December for the club although they have Liverpool, QPR, West Ham and Southampton coming up which are difficult games. If they get through those unscathed, then who knows where Arsenal might end up.
They are not far away from being a great side again after losing their way and drifting a bit over the past few years. I know they’ve got injury problems with Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, and Mikel Arteta but with players like Cazorla, Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck all playing well I think they can cope. The game at Liverpool is a big test. I don’t say that because Liverpool are playing that well, but because of the 5-1 thrashing they took at Anfield last year which led to people questioning the mental strength of the players. That will be in the back of their minds.
Liverpool look wobbly at the back and have trouble keeping the ball out, while at the other end of the pitch they are struggling to put the ball in the net. They have played eight games at Anfield and scored just seven goals. QPR, for example, have played eight games but have scored 14 which tells its own story so Brendan Rodgers needs to rectify that.
Arsenal will be determined to get revenge for what happened last season, so expect to see them go at Liverpool from the off. If they can deal with Raheem Sterling’s movement and speed, then they’ll get something out of this game. Both teams will score, but I can’t separate them. I’ll say 2-2.
Richard Keys: Arsenal will definitely finish in the top four but Wenger still doesn’t have a team that can challenge for the title. Their key player at the moment is Giroud. He makes all the difference when he’s fit but they don’t win the big games often enough.
I would love Arsenal to win the title but I just can’t see it happening any time soon. They will always be good enough to finish in the top four but no better and that isn’t good enough for a club of their stature.
I agree with what Andy says about the club needing a good, solid centre-back but it is in the club’s DNA to have small, pacey, technical players.
He had powerful players like Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell in the past but I don’t think he goes out looking for the more physical player and while Per Mertesacker is OK if he is surrounded by other players who can protect him, on
his own he gets exposed. Finding the right player will be difficult but you’ll never find one if you don’t look. Maybe he could get Matija Nastasic at Man City, or Fabricio Coloccini at Newcastle has always been underrated but clearly Arsenal don’t want that sort of combative footballer.
That’s why I say Wenger has become part of the problem rather than the solution, maybe it’s time for Frank de Boer and Dennis Bergkamp to take over and have a change of direction. I don’t want to see Wenger hounded out but for him to go of his own accord when he thinks the time is right.
A top four finish this season might just present him with that opportunity.
As for this weekend, I don’t think they will get taken apart by Liverpool this time around. Not because Arsenal are much better, but because Liverpool are a good deal worse. 2-2 draw.
Man City v Crystal Palace
AG: I know City huffed and puffed a bit against Leicester last week but they got the job done. Palace have good spirit and I am sure they will frustrate City for a while, but this is a home banker. 2-0.
RK: Easy win for City, it’s just a question of by how many. 3-0.
Aston Villa v Man United
AG: United love playing at Villa Park where they have a fantastic record. Although Christian Benteke could shake up them up at the back, I think Louis van Gaal’s team will win this 3-1.
RK: Villa will sit, wait and then strike and they are as good as anybody at doing that. This is a big test for United who have been fortunate to win six in a row. 1-1.
Stoke v Chelsea
AG: Stoke saw off Arsenal the last time a big team went to the Britannia Stadium but can they do the same against Chelsea? I don’t think so. 0-1.
RK: At home, Chelsea will probably win every week but on the road they have not been so convincing when drawing at Sunderland and losing to Newcastle. Stoke can provide the shock of the weekend. 2-1 home win.
Hull v Swansea
AG: Hull have been ravaged by injuries so this is a tough one for them but Swansea’s away form is not great. 2-1 home win.
RK: Hull are in real trouble now and they have to stop the rot. Swansea are nervous away from home. 1-1.
QPR v West Brom
AG: QPR’s home form is the clincher here. Charlie Austin is back after suspension which will be an extra boost for QPR, who will win this 2-1.
RK: If QPR stay in the Premier League, it will be as a result of their home form. 2-1.
Southampton v Everton
AG: The Saints have been a bit unfortunate in a run of defeats and need a win. Everton aren’t very good at the moment and they won’t get anything here. 1-0.
RK: Everton aren’t at it yet and although they won 3-1 last week it flattered them. Southampton are suffering a bit at the moment but they are good enough to get a point at home. 1-1.
Tottenham v Burnley
AG: I am always a bit unsure about which Tottenham side is going to turn up. If they turn it on they are a decent side and if they don’t beat Burnley it will be a chance lost. 3-0.
RK: The wheels have got to come off for Burnley at some stage and Spurs have found a little bit extra in recent games. 2-0.
West Ham v Leicester
AG: Leicester have a dismal away record and they just aren’t good enough to stop West Ham’s impressive run. 2-1.
RK: At home I would fancy Leicester for a point but not at West Ham where they’ll lose 2-0.
Newcastle v Sunderland
AG: Derbies are always difficult to call but Newcastle have won their last four home games so I’ll say they will edge this 2-1.
RK: You would expect Newcastle to win at their place but anything can happen in a derby game.
Sunderland aren’t great, but they have enough to get yet another draw. 1-1.
