Will We Spank ‘Pool?

Before this game, everything points to a comfortable Arsenal win, even though it is at Anfield. We’re of course on a high after the 7-0 demolition job on Slavia Prague while Liverpool have in general played poorly and went down to Besiktas in midweek. If things stayed that way we would win comfortably, however we all know that is not the case and this match will be the toughest match we have played all season. It being at Anfield may even help us, as the Anfield crowd will want them to play attacking football, and if they do we will destroy them; I suspect however they will put three men on Fabregas and try to kick us off the park.

As always is the regular list of injuries; Robin Van Persie is out for a month of course while Senderos has injured his back and we will see the short duo of Kolo Toure and William Gallas in the middle. Other than that though we appear to have most of our first team players fit, while Liverpool have Arsenal darling (and this is said with *extreme* sarcasm if you don’t pick it up) Jermaine Pennant, who wowed the crowd at Highbury with his drinking, driving and other such habits.

I would assume that Liverpool will play Crouch up front; the beanpole striker of course scored a hat trick against us time round and we will have trouble keeping him how, especially as Sagna is the only player in defense that is a competent header of the ball. Liverpool however have Daniel Agger out and will thus have to play Hyypia at the back - put Adebayor 1v1 against him and there’ll only be one winner (the Togonian for those of you too thick to get that). There are rumours? that Wenger may unleash Theo Walcott after his sensational performance against Slavia Prague; while some Gooners feel that this would be wasteful, I think that Walcott would thrive as he did last year against Chelsea in the Carling Cup final. Liverpool will have difficulty dealing with Adebayor and Walcott on the ground (Carragher is not the quickest) and if we slip in one of those players behind the defense, that should result in a goal (or two).

Anyways, here’s my prediction for the team to play today:

————-Almunia——————

-Sagna–Toure–Gallas–Clichy

———–Flamini————-

—Hleb–Cesc–Rosicky–Walcott

————Adebayor————-

Wenger may decide to bring Gilberto instead of Flamini as the Brazilian did well after he came on in midweek and he is used to the big games; it would be unfair to drop the Flamster though so I’m not too sure about that. Anyways, I know a few Gunners are feeling nervous about tonight- to cheer you guys up, here’s the video of the absolute mauling we dished out to them in the Carling Cup last season. Baptista hit four and even Alex ‘Zidane’ Song got one! Only our goals though, and watch out for Rafa’s face at the end.