After a relatively disappointing two games sandwiched either side of a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, the Gunners once again return to Premier League action at the Emirates in which we will see the highly anticipated match up between 1st and 3rd places, separated by just 2 points.

Arsenal will welcome Liverpool to London this weekend, and will be hoping to obtain a five point lead in the league over the opposition by coming away with all 3 points. The Gunners currently sit on 22 points, whilst both Chelsea and Liverpool have 20 points in the league, with the Blues only on top because of goal difference.

This is Arsenal’s 3rd big team faced in 4 games and with the previous two of these big games ending in defeat for the club, things aren’t looking pretty. However I’m confident that we can get ourselves back on track to keep our long standing impressive run in the league going.

Liverpool has always been a side that have troubled Arsenal in recent years and it’s difficult to remember the last time the Gunners endured a comfortable game. Memorably the 4-4 at Anfield and the 1-1 draw at the Emirates in which saw two penalties given in stoppage time; but this time Arsenal will be hoping for a far greater and possibly easier victory.

With no real new injury news to come back to, we can only be praised with the reports that Gnabry and Podolski may both be in line for a return to the bench at least. Walcott still remains out for the week at least, whilst the Ox and Flamini will continue to be out for a few more weeks.

Arteta also returns after his one match ban and so I think Arsenal could line up as follows:
Szczesny
Sagna Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
Arteta Ramsey
Wilshere Ozil Cazorla
Giroud

Jenkinson endured a pretty bad game in midweek and so it’s very likely Sagna will return, whilst there is definitely not much to say about Bendtner’s position. Monreal had a good game as always however I think Gibbs will retain the left back spot in the league for now, whilst a defensive partnership of Mertesacker and Koscielny is likely to return with Vermaelen dropping out.

It’s a completely reshuffled team however it will hopefully be a winning combination. I don’t know what quite to expect going into this game, but with two defeats in a row at the Emirates, Arsenal will be desperate not to disappoint again and make it 3rd time lucky!

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