Freepik.
Morning all.
Southampton did us a bit of a favour yesterday afternoon by playing out a draw against Man City. We’re still be in second place regardless of what happens later this afternoon but then we will in all likelihood, need maximum points from our final two fixtures.
In today’s matches, Newcastle Utd and Chelsea go head to head and Nottingham Forest host Leicester City. A draw in both would certainly help us out but then so would an away win for Arsenal at Anfield, a game which takes place later in the afternoon.
Injuries:
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel are ruled out.
With Alexander-Arnold leaving at the end of the season, Arne Slot confirmed that Connor Bradley will start at right-back this afternoon. Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton are ruled out.
If my maths is right, we need four points to secure second place which in terms of Champions League football alone, would be the best outcome for the club. Talking of which, Renée Slegers and her players secured second place in the WSL yesterday by beating Man Utd 4-3 at The Emirates.
The Arsenal players need to pick their chin off the floor for today’s game. Yes, the PSG defeat will have hurt but there’s still a job to do in three more matches. Today’s game against Liverpool is going to be difficult, of course it is but there are points to be won and we need them.
The last couple of seasons has seen this fixture end with the points shared so if we can manage to repeat that again today, I for one would be happy. Happier of course if we can take all three points.
In his pre match press conference, Mikel Arteta spoke about giving Liverpool a guard of honour:
They deserve that. They’ve been the best team, they’ve been the most consistent, and what Arne and the coaching staff have done has been fascinating, it’s been really good. They fully deserve it, and that’s the sport. If somebody’s better, you have to approve and accept and try to reach that level.
On using the guard of honour as motivation for next year:
Yeah, something has to drive you, motivate you, and pain for this is a good one to use sometimes, you know, when you really want to do something, but it’s the right thing to do, usually as a motivation for next season.
He’s right, Liverpool do deserve a guard of honour because that’s how football is and regardless of how they won the league, Arne Slots first season has been a good one. Whether or not they’d have won the league had they been officiated in the same way Arsenal have is a totally different matter. Even so, we cannot blame the officials for our own level of football or our inability to convert good goal scoring opportunities into goals.
Talking of officials, today’s are:
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Lee Betts
Fourth official: Craig Pawson
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Mat Wilkes
Might Arteta be tempted to bring Jorginho, Tierney and Calafiori into the side today I wonder. Will Rice start again or will he be given a breather before we play our last home fixture against Newcastle next weekend? Will Merino play up front, or Trossard and will Nwaneri give Saka a break? What about Odegaard, is this the day to give him a breather? I doubt it. I think Arteta is more likely to field the same eleven which faced PSG. After all, there are only three fixtures left to play and they have a week to recover before the Newcastle game. I bet every one of the Arsenal players want to start this match too and I suspect they’re desperate to beat the newly crowned champions, especially on their own turf.
At least I hope that’s how they feel….
See you in the comments.