GOALLLLLLL: Gabriel Magalhaes with a defensive blunder to give Liverpool the equalizer – Arsenal what’s happening
Arsenal will be eyeing a third-straight Premier League win when they host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium this evening.
The Gunners are currently five points adrift of leaders Liverpool and have a brilliant chance to close the deficit by beating them.
They were unable to do so in the two meetings this term, but managed to create plenty of scoring opportunities in both.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping that his players are more clinical in front of goal today.
Ahead of the game, the manager has confirmed a blow with midfielder Thomas Partey suffering a setback on his return from a thigh injury.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
David Raya has been an undisputed choice in goal since mid-September. He has played in every league game but one where he was ineligible to face his parent club Brentford. The Spaniard will start between the sticks.
In defence, it should be an unchanged back four. Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko are nailed-on starters from the full-back positions with William Saliba partnering Gabriel Magalhaes in the heart of the backline.
Arteta may opt for more control in midfield. He played Jorginho and Declan Rice together in the FA Cup third round tie where the Gunners were by far the better team in the opening half. We could see the same combination with Emile Smith Rowe dropping to the bench.
Further forward, Bukayo Saka is primed to start on the right wing. The same can be said for Gabriel Martinelli on the opposite end. Martinelli scored two stoppage time goals in the last home game and has proved a nemesis for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the past.
Martin Odegaard is expected to continue from his preferred number 10 position with Gabriel Jesus leading the line. The Brazilian was fantastic at Nottingham Forest with a goal and an assist and Arsenal need him to replicate the performance against the Reds.
Luis Díaz robándole la cartera a Gabriel Magalhaes. No se pueden conceder esos errores🤦🏻 https://t.co/y4CIWyirtS
— Fran Navarro (@fran_navarr0) February 4, 2024
