Arsenal
[Image] A star-studded 4-2-3-1 combined XI featuring 3 Arsenal stars and 8 Liverpool aces
Liverpool v Arsenal Prediction: Combined Line-up
When Liverpool meet Arsenal, there is always an entertainment value attached. That’s what we are expecting to see when these two teams clash at Anfield on Saturday.
While both teams are the only ones who have won both of their opening league games, it won’t be the case when the final whistle blows on Saturday evening.
If we take a look at the recent meetings in Merseyside, Liverpool have been steamrolling Arsenal for fun. However, with this game being early in the season where the Reds are yet to settle completely and the Gunners look better than last few years, we can expect a closely-fought high-scoring encounter.
Below, we form a combined XI featuring players of both these teams: (NOTE – only the players who are fit to play this game are included in this XI)
Combined Liverpool-Arsenal XI
Manager – Jurgen Klopp
Formation – 4-2-3-1
Bernd Leno (GK) (Arsenal)
With Alisson injured, Leno gets the nod ahead of Liverpool’s second-choice keeper Adrian in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) (Liverpool)
Despite making a slow start to the season, Trent is arguably one of the best right-backs in the league. He certainly gets in ahead of Maitland-Niles.
Joel Matip (CB) (Liverpool)
Even though Sokratis or David Luiz have a good shout of partnering van Dijk, Matip is a Champions League winner and deserves to get the nod ahead of the Arsenal defenders.
Virgil van Dijk (CB) (Liverpool)
Not many would argue against van Dijk being in any team around the world, let alone in a combined Liverpool-Arsenal XI.
Andy Robertson (LB) (Liverpool)
Robertson is probably the best left-back in the country right now. He has earned the right to get picked automatically in most teams.
Fabinho (CM) (Liverpool)
Fabinho has been very good for Liverpool since the turn of the year. He gets selected ahead of any defensive midfielder in the Arsenal team.
Dani Ceballos (CM) (Arsenal)
After his fantastic display against Burnley, Ceballos has bursted into this combined XI as one of the floating central midfielders. His quality on/off the ball is right up there with one of the better players in the league.
Mohamed Salah (RW) (Liverpool)
Salah has been Liverpool’s main man for some time now. He loves to play against Arsenal at Anfield. The Egyptian certainly gets the nod on the right wing.
Roberto Firmino (SS) (Liverpool)
The Brazilian star probably loves this fixture having scored a hat-trick the last time these two teams met at Anfield. In this XI, he can play behind Aubameyang as a floating number 10.
Sadio Mane (LW) (Liverpool)
If current form is taken into account, Mane is right up there when it comes overall play and lethal goal-scoring. He is better than most left-wingers in the league and gets the nod here.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) (Arsenal)
The last season’s joint-Golden Boot winner has started this season well by scoring in both the league games. He should lead the line of star-studded players.
Arsenal Women surrendered a commanding two-goal lead at the Allianz Arena, collapsing spectacularly after dominating the first half. The defeat represents an early blow to the holders’ Champions League defense and exposes fundamental weaknesses in Renee Slegers’ side.
Defensive High Line Proved Disastrous
Arsenal’s backline held an extremely high defensive position throughout, which Bayern ruthlessly exploited during their second-half comeback. Stephanie Catley and Lottie Wubben-Moy were caught flat-footed for Alara Sehitler’s 67th-minute goal, with Bayern breaking quickly while Arsenal pushed high up the pitch.
Sehitler found herself in acres of space to clip past Daphne van Domselaar, highlighting catastrophic positioning from Arsenal’s defenders. The same defensive naivety appeared for Pernille Harder’s equalizer, with both center-backs standing off and allowing the substitute uncontested shooting space on the box edge.
Read More: Experienced Vet Wins Arsenal Women’s October Player of the Month After Breaking Goal Drought
Second-Half Tactical Capitulation
Arsenal dominated the opening 45 minutes completely, making Bayern look ordinary through high pressing and controlled possession. But Slegers failed adjusting tactically after halftime, allowing Bayern to completely dominate proceedings and turn the match around.
The manager receives a damning 4/10 rating for her inability to respond as Bayern’s momentum grew. Her substitutions failed stemming the tide, with Chloe Kelly and Frida Maanum making minimal impact. Maanum particularly disappointed by squandering a glorious opportunity with 10 minutes remaining after excellent Alessia Russo work.
Pernille Harder Continues Arsenal Curse
Harder’s 80th-minute equalizer marked her seventh goal against Arsenal following her Chelsea career. The Danish striker’s unorthodox but brilliant looping shot over Van Domselaar demonstrated her instinctive finishing ability that has consistently punished the Gunners.
Arsenal’s inability to handle Harder’s movement and shooting prowess reflects deeper issues defending against intelligent forwards who exploit space between lines. Her goal sparked Bayern’s late surge, with Glodis Viggosdottir completing the turnaround four minutes later following another Klara Buhl assist.
Arsenal Dragon
Arsenal Women Player Ratings vs. Bayern Munich: Pernille Harder Haunts Gunners as Champions Squander Two-Goal Lead
Arsenal Women surrendered a commanding two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 at the Allianz Arena, suffering a devastating Champions League defeat that threatens their title defense. Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey established control before Bayern’s second-half onslaught overturned the deficit.
The Standout Performers:
Mariona Caldentey – 7/10 Thrashed home Arsenal’s second goal after capitalizing on dreadful Bayern defending. Shifted the ball brilliantly before unleashing an unstoppable 20-yard drive into the roof of the net.
Provided creative spark throughout, constantly threatening with technical quality whenever receiving possession.
Alessia Russo – 7/10 Deserved more for her efforts after seeing plenty of possession in dangerous areas. Forced excellent save from Mala Grohs with long-distance strike and created wonderful opportunity for Frida Maanum late on. Her attacking intent couldn’t prevent the collapse.
Emily Fox – 7/10 Opened scoring by capitalizing on goalkeeper error, heading home from close range after Beth Mead’s powerful shot.
Faced significantly more defensive work after halftime as Bayern dominated proceedings.
The Solid Showings:
Beth Mead – 6/10 Credited with assist for opener after her fierce low shot was palmed down into Fox’s path. Involved in buildup for second goal and shrugged off heavy challenge in the 50th minute. Productive evening overall.
Stina Blackstenius – 6/10 Nearly scored spectacular goal when fierce strike crashed off crossbar. Constant threat before 60th-minute substitution but couldn’t add to Arsenal’s tally.
Caitlin Foord – 6/10 Productive display cut short after hour mark when replaced by Chloe Kelly.
Katie McCabe – 6/10 Relatively quiet evening before 75th-minute substitution.
Victoria Pelova – 6/10 Covered significant ground with tireless running before replacement by Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Daphne van Domselaar – 5/10 Virtual spectator during dominant first half. Exposed completely for Alara Sehitler’s 67th-minute goal and helpless preventing Pernille Harder’s brilliant looping equalizer or Glodis Viggosdottir’s winner.
Stephanie Catley – 5/10 Caught flat-footed holding high line for Bayern’s opener. Stood off Harder disastrously for equalizer.
Lottie Wubben-Moy – 5/10 Similar struggles to defensive partner Catley. Slow closing down Harder for leveller after being caught off-guard by Bayern’s quick break.
Chloe Kelly – 5/10 Struggled making impact after 60th-minute introduction with Arsenal pinned back.
Frida Maanum – 5/10 Squandered glorious chance after excellent Russo work with 10 minutes remaining.
Renee Slegers – 4/10 Shell-shocked after watching commanding position evaporate. Failed adjusting tactically after halftime as Bayern completely dominated.
Arsenal Dragon
Dramatic Turn of Events That Led to Arsenal’s Underrated 2013 Signing, and how Fans Reacted to it Back Then
One of Arsenal’s unsung heroes in the club’s rather silent years was Spanish full-back Nacho Monreal. Any given match, the former Malaga man would give it his all. A solid player, and an even nicer man off the field.
Nacho Monreal Recently Narrated that Hilarious Morning he Signed for Arsenal
Monreal joined the club in the winter transfer window of 2013. And more recently, he narrated how dramatically things went down before he reached London to sign for the club. He told Ladbrokes in an interview:
“I was in Malaga, playing for Malaga, and I remember, I woke up, I checked the phone and I had, two phone calls from Santi Cazorla. So I was a bit surprised…So, I arrived to the training ground and I called back, Santi, ‘Santi, what’s happening? Why are you calling me so early in the morning?’
“‘Nacho, Nacho, be quick, do you want to join for Arsenal?’
“I said, ‘What?’
“‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, the club, Arsene Wenger asked me if you want to join the club.’
“I was like, ‘What, really?’
“‘Yeah, yeah, Nacho. Yeah, it’s 100% serious.’
“And I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course I want to go.’“
Monreal went on to add that it all happened so quick that he hadn’t even told his wife that he had signed for Arsenal.
Arsenal Fans Back in 2013 Had No Clue Who Nacho Monreal was
A boatload of Arsenal fans back in January 2013 didn’t have any idea about Nacho Monreal. Although, the Spaniard had been a regular in La Liga for over half a decade by then, he wasn’t popular among the Gooners.
Here are some tweets from 2013 about Monreal’s signing:
Monreal, after over 6 solid years with the club, returned to Spain to play for Real Sociedad in 2019. After three seasons, until 2022, he was a pretty regular starter. Monreal hung up his boots the same year.
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