Liverpool’s attack vs. Arsenal’s defence – Who wins?

Arsenal vs Liverpool at the Emirates

Time for another debate. This week in the Squawka HQ we’ve been arguing over this weekend’s tastiest fixture – Arsenal v Liverpool.

One half of the office can’t look past the scoring prowess of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez and believe Brendan Rodgers’ side will put a big, fat dent in the Gunners’ title challenge.

Meanwhile, the other half, namely Arsenal fans, believe the defensive bond between Laurent Koscielny and Per Merstesacker will prove strong enough for Arsenal to maintain their two-point buffer at the summit of the league table. Whatever the result, it should be a cracking game at an atmospheric Anfield.

In the Liverpool corner, we have Sam Parker. In the Arsenal corner, Sam Long. Without further ado, let’s debate!

Sam Parker – SAS Will Out-Gun The Gunners

With Arsenal coming to town and Spurs and Everton facing off against each other on the Sunday, Liverpool have a great chance to put some daylight between themselves and their challengers for fourth place and reinstate themselves in the title race – and I feel they will do it.

Arsenal will find the same problems they faced when visiting Manchester City, with a team boasting more firepower than them, and they crumble when teams are stronger in offence.

City and Chelsea have both recorded home victories over the Gunners on the basis that they boast a stronger attacking lineup than Arsenal and Liverpool will be the latest to add their name to the list, with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge firing on all cylinders.

Suarez’s goals have come from all over the pitch

Suarez has only gone two games without a goal once since returning from his suspension, with those coming against Chelsea and Manchester City, so he is almost guaranteed to score, while Sturridge has been on a tremendous run since returning from injury, having scored six goals in the last five games.

Arsenal will not be able to boss the midfield like they did against Crystal Palace, as they come up against a more formidable unit in the centre of the park, with Jordan Henderson reinventing himself as one of the most creative midfielders in England, having carved out 44 opportunities for team-mates.

Only Mesut Ozil can boast a more creative streak than Henderson, while Liverpool have Steven Gerrard also greasing the cogs of the Liverpool machine.

Arsenal may have some fine players and are top of the table for a reason. But this is a Liverpool side with a point to prove and the players to prove it. Expect them to come away with a vital three points to bring themselves back into the title talk instead of doubting their participation in the Champions League.

Sam Long – Arsenal Will Dominate The Midfield

Arsene Wenger’s February fixture list is a daunting prospect and they face a huge test at Anfield on Saturday to begin a run of games that sees them host Manchester, face Liverpool again in the FA Cup and entertain European champions Bayern Munich in the next fortnight.

It is vital they start as they mean to go on with a victory over Brendan Rodgers’ side, or the doubts that have seen their season unravel in a matter of weeks before will start to creep in.

In October’s 2-0 victory over the Merseysiders, Arsenal dominated their opponents. If they can control the midfield battle, they should prove to be too strong for Liverpool. Steven Gerrard has not been effective in a deep lying midfield role and with the England skipper as the central pivot, Arsenal’s attacking midfield contingent will simply pass around their opponents if Rodgers does not field extra security in the centre in the absence of Lucas Leiva.

Even if he does, Joe Allen is not up to the task of stopping Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, who has scored in two of his three appearances against the Reds.

Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have played 11 Premier League games together this season and the only team to stop them both scoring is Arsenal and I’m expecting the powerful defensive partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker to repeat the feat.

Szczesny has kept 11 clean sheets so far this season

If the SAS partnership can be contained, or stifled, as I think there will be goals at both ends, Arsenal should be able control possession and win all three points to keep them on top of the table and deliver a blow to Liverpool’s Champions League hopes.