Arsenal vs Liverpool: Top spot awaits

Aaron Ramsey in action against Liverpool

When Liverpool travel to Emirates Stadium, more than three points are at stake. If Liverpool win against the Gunners, they will be at top of the Premier League. For Arsenal, they will be looking to bounce back after the humiliating defeat they suffered in midweek in Capital One Cup at the hands of Chelsea. As the League leaders face Liverpool, though not decider, this game could be decisive in the long run. Liverpool did not had a game in midweek so their squad is fresh to face the Gunners. On the other hand, some of the players who featured in midweek, will be in starting XI due to lack of depth in the Arsenal squad.

Arsenal won each of their last 3 league games at Highbury against Liverpool but have won only 2 of 7 since they moved to the Emirates. The Gunners have failed to beat Liverpool at the Emirates for the past three seasons with two draws & one defeat by the hands of Anfield club. Although, if we look at long distance, Arsenal have lost just one of their last 12 clashes with Liverpool, winning four and drawing seven.

Players to watch out for are obviously none other than Daniel Sturridge & Luis Suarez. They have formed a formidable forward partnership since the return of Uruguayan after serving 10 game ban & are reckoned as one of the finest striking pairs in Europe. For Arsenal, Olivier Giroud & Aaron Ramsey are in scintillating form. Aaron Ramsey has 5 goals and 3 assists in his last 6 Premier League appearances. Giroud & Ramsey jointly lead the assists chart with 4 while Mesut Ozil at number two with 3 assists though Ozil has gone four Premier League appearances without an assist.

The debatable and so called disadvantage Arsenal have is they are playing at the Emirates Stadium. Andrey Arshavin raised the question over the support the team receives at Emirates. Arsenal are known for their good away record but they need to improve their home form as they lost to Aston Villa on the first day of the season in the Premier league, against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League a fortnight ago & crashed out of Capital One Cup against Chelsea in midweek. Arsenal have suffered two consecutive defeats at the Emirates stadium in span of 10 days, on the other hand, Liverpool are unbeaten in the away games this season in Premier League with winning & drawing 2 each.

Team News:

• Arsenal: Mikel Arteta returns after his one game suspension. Mathieu Flamini unavailable due to groin injury. Serge Gnabry is ruled out due to an ankle injury. Theo Walcott & Lukas Podolski are still recovering while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Abou Diaby, Yaya Sanogo remain sidelined.
• Liverpool: Brazillian midfielder Philippe Coutinho returns to the squad after a shoulder injury which kept him out for more than a month. Left-back Jose Enrique has not recovered from a knee injury and will not be included.

OPTA Stats:

• Luis Suarez has six goals and one assist in four Premier League games since returning from suspension.
• Daniel Sturridge has scored a single goal in eight of his (and Liverpool’s) nine league fixtures this season, with Southampton the only team to shut him out.
• November is Arsenal’s least productive month in Premier League history with the Gunners gaining only 1.55 points per game. October is their second most productive month (behind March).
• Liverpool and Arsenal players have both scored 34 Premier League hat-tricks, more than any other club in the competition.
• Liverpool have hit the woodwork eight times this season and have done so 60 times since August 2011, both Premier League-high figures.

Match Appointments:

• Referee: Martin Atkinson.
• Assistants: S Burt, M McDonough.
• Fourth Official: M Jones.