By Sam McGuire
The match on Sunday won’t be as essential because it may’ve been, however it’s nonetheless large.
An Arsenal capitulation?
Consider it or not, Arsenal have taken simply six factors from their final 5 Premier League matches. This collapse is why Liverpool have been capable of declare the title with 4 video games to spare. The Gunners simply stopped placing strain on the Reds.
Consequently, Mikel Arteta’s facet discovered themselves ninth within the kind desk heading in to the weekend. Their season actually has fizzled out. Their title problem resulted in April. Their pursuit of Champions League glory resulted in Paris on Wednesday evening with a 3-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal now discover themselves in a wierd predicament. They begin the match on Sunday two factors Manchester Metropolis, after the previous champions drew with Southampton on Saturday. They may even be simply three factors away from Newcastle and Chelsea. They nonetheless should face the Magpies earlier than the season involves an finish too.
So, they went from being in a reasonably snug place to probably needing to win two of the following three to say a Champions League place. Getting up for these video games can be an enormous ask following the frustration of shedding to PSG.
Attacking myths
All you hear from Arsenal followers and pundits is that the Gunners want a striker to rework them from runners-up into champions.
However how true is that narrative?
The information appears to dispute this concept. Arteta’s facet are fourth within the English top-flight for objectives this time period with 64. Solely Liverpool (81), Newcastle (66) and Manchester Metropolis (67) have extra. Sure, they’re considerably behind the champions, however they’re not far off of their different rivals.
What’s attention-grabbing is once you have a look at their underlying numbers. Arsenal are seventh when it comes to Anticipated Objectives with 56. It highlights their inventive points slightly than their incapability to complete. If something, their overperformance in ending has saved their marketing campaign. Including a striker to the combo gained’t assist in case you’re merely unable to create. They’re sixth in massive possibilities created with 101, a stat that additional backs up the concept they aren’t a lot of a inventive risk, regardless of the narratives suggesting in any other case.
Arteta’s system isn’t one which will get the very best out of attackers. He’s not been let down by the board not signing a striker. He’s let his attackers down by shackling them.
What reception will Alexander-Arnold get?
That is the primary recreation for Trent Alexander-Arnold since he introduced he can be leaving Liverpool on a free switch.
The suitable-back is predicted to hitch Actual Madrid in July, although Los Blancos need him earlier for the Membership World Cup. The England worldwide launched a video, and an announcement, earlier within the week explaining it was a troublesome determination and he wished to get out of his consolation zone.
Whereas rivals and journalists have had their say on this and imagine he ought to be thanked for his time on the membership, Liverpool followers, at the least these on-line, really feel slightly otherwise. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see what kind of reception he’ll get from an Anfield crowd that can be in celebratory mode following the title win over Spurs.
The truth is, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if Arne Slot even begins the No. 66. The Dutchman would possibly favour Conor Bradley there given he’ll possible be beginning for the Reds in that function subsequent season.
A document for Salah?
Mohamed Salah is only one aim involvement away from matching the document held by Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer. The duo paved the way with 47, although they achieved this in a 42 recreation marketing campaign.
The Liverpool No. 11 is 2 objectives off 30 for the Premier League marketing campaign and two assists away from 20. If he does the latter, he’ll be the primary participant since Thierry Henry to hit 20+ objectives and handle 20+ assists in a single season. Information may tumble for the soon-to-be four-time Golden Boot winner.
And he has a reasonably good document towards the Gunners, with a aim in every of his final three video games towards them and 5 in his final seven.
Accidents
Liverpool are nonetheless with out Joe Gomez whereas Arsenal can be with out Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz for the journey to Anfield.
Slot made modifications to his beginning XI for the sport towards Chelsea final weekend however it’s important to assume the Dutch tactician will go robust towards Arsenal to make an announcement. He’ll additionally need his key gamers within the beginning XI for the guard of honour they so richly deserve.
Prediction
We’re going with a 3-1 win for Liverpool. The Reds will wish to make a degree and Arsenal could also be feeling the results of crashing out of the Champions League.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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