Arsenal V Liverpool

Wednesday, 10^th February – 19:45 GMT (Sky Sports 2)

Arsenal

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: WWDLL

Arsenal, after a torrid couple of outings, will be gunning for an important victory over another rival when they entertain Liverpool at The Emirates. The Gunners’ title bid has been derailed after a visit from Man Utd and a trip to Stamford Bridge, but now Liverpool come to town in a game Arsenal simply have to win, not only to keep their slim title dreams alive but also to avoid being drawn into this fight for fourth place.

Arsene Wenger’s side were once so prominent in the league table but are now contemplating life in the remainder of the season in a top four scrap as defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday night would drag Arsenal right back into this intriguing contest. However, Arsenal have yet to lose a Premiership fixture to Liverpool at The Emirates, while you’ll have to stretch your memory banks back to February, 2000 for Liverpool’s last victory on Arsenal soil. Perhaps it will be fate that sees Arsenal’s run of eight league games at home unbeaten against their Merseyside opponents vanish, nearly a decade to the day after Liverpool last won on Arsenal soil. 

Arsenal were largely disappointing again on Sunday in yet another huge clash the Gunners didn’t come out on top in. Moreover, Arsenal are now on the verge of completing an unwanted hat-trick of home defeats against the so called ‘Big Four’. However, Liverpool haven’t been up to scratch all season and you would have to make Arsenal firm favourites despite their poor showing at Stamford Bridge last Sunday. That defeat did, however, come quickly off the back of a home defeat to Manchester United the weekend before, so to lose two crunch games in such a short space of time must be like taking a sledgehammer to the confidence and morale of the Arsenal camp. 

The positives about Arsenal’s performance at the weekend was their ability to retain possession for long periods of the game. However, this was largely ineffective because they did next to nothing with it, with clear cut chances a rarity for The Gunners in the clash at The Bridge, with Arsenal surprisingly lacking that cutting edge in the final third. The concern, though, was their poor defence… once again! When Arsenal are having to chase back and defend they look a mess. Two weekends in a row now Arsenal have been caught napping at the back from counter-attacks and have been severely punished for it. An Arsenal defence, which had kept four clean sheets in it’s last seven league games, has now shipped five in it’s last two and you would have to have some level of doubts over the confidence and form of that Arsenal back four heading into another high-pressured game.

Liverpool

League Position: 4th

Recent Form: DWDWW

Rafael Benitez will have been delighted with his teams efforts in what was a full-blooded encounter at the battle of Anfield with local rivals Everton. To come off the pitch with no lasting injuries was a minor miracle in itself but to leave their beloved ground with all three points, despite being reduced to 10 men during the first half, was an outstanding result and one that extended their unbeaten run in the league to seven games. Now, though, Liverpool have an even bigger task on their hands as they aim to banish their poor record at Arsenal when they take on The Gunners at The Emirates.

It was carnage at Anfield as tackles were flying in, elbows were being flung and cards were being dished out like it was Christmas. One player who will now miss this trip to Arsenal is Kyriakos, whom has been one of Liverpool’s star players in this seven match unbeaten run of theirs. A rash lunge from the Greek centre-back meant he received an instant red and he will now miss Liverpool’s next three encounters. The lanky Greek will be sorely missed as he’s been somewhat of a rock in defence for the Reds as they kept their fourth successive league clean sheet on Saturday. Then again, his main strength is his aerial ability and Arsenal won’t pose a threat from the air, and so, someone more agile is required anyway – Someone like Daniel Agger, for instance.

It’s bewildering to think that Liverpool are now the inform team of the two considering the Merseyside club have endured a drastic season to date. However, they are a team that haven’t lost in seven outings in the Premiership and are the side that have clawed their way back into Champions League contention, with five wins from their last seven. Moreover, Rafa’s men will be brimming with confidence after they finally regained fourth spot on Saturday after a perfect weekend of results for them.

However, we will be the party pooper by saying that Liverpool do possess a very untidy away record of 4-3-5, with the reds without an away win in their last two outings; drawing at both Stoke City & Wolves, both low scoring affairs. Their last away win came at Villa Park when they beat Aston Villa 1-0 in a game they never deserved to win. Moreover, their performances away from home on the whole have been abysmal and it will take some effort, regardless of Arsenal’s recent disappointments, to turn Arsenal over on their own patch. This is especially true when you hear that Liverpool haven’t managed to score more than two goals in an away Premiership fixture since the 29^th November, when Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park, six away games ago.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

Arsenal have recently gone off the boil while Liverpool haven’t exactly excelled in this seen match unbeaten run of theirs. Also, these two sides have played out a 1-1 draw in their last two encounters at The Emirates. Three if you include their 1-1 draw in the Champions League a couple of seasons ago. At The Emirates, you would fancy Arsenal to bounce back from any defeat but they are up against a rejuvenated Liverpool side who could prove to be the thorn in their side. However, The Gunners have been very impressive at home throughout the season, with only a few blips against the very best tarnishing what would have been a very strong home record. Liverpool have the form and plenty of momentum but I reckon both sides will have to settle for a point come the end, of which neither side would be too disgruntled with.

Match Odds:

Arsenal – 2.10 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

Liverpool – 3.90 Expekt

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Under 2.5 Goals – 1.80 Bet365

This could turn out to be a foolish selection but neither have been impressing in front of goal of late, with Arsenal without a recognised forward, although Nicklas Bendnter could make his long-awaited return from injury for this clash, while Liverpool have been winning games by the odd goal and with the help of some tidy defending. Arsenal have now failed to score in their last three Premiership fixtures, while Liverpool haven’t conceded a goal in the league in over 440 minutes of league action. A run which would have been longer were it not for a late Huth equaliser against Stoke. That’s the only goal Pepe Reina has conceded in his last seven league appearances and so he’ll be full of confidence in the Liverpool goal.

Arsenal are struggling for fire-power and creativity up front while Liverpool have been repelling all invaders of late. You could say a goal rush is well overdue but the form and displays from both sides would indicate another low scoring encounter could be on the cards, with a fourth 1-1 draw in succession at The Emirates between the two not a bad shout.

Advisable Selections:

1-1 Correct Score – 6/1 SkyBet

Nicklas Bendnter Anytime Scorer – 9/4 Coral

Dirk Kuyt Anytime Scorer – 13/5 Coral