Match preview by Shard aka @ShardGooner
The international break is now over and Arsenal are set to resume their season with a trip to Anfield. The break came at a somewhat unfortunate time since we’d built up momentum. But on the other hand, it should allow us to draw a line under the run and look to start afresh.
I found myself more excited and drawn to Arsenal as a result of the break. away from the constant noise from and around the club, I felt motivated to look back at some of our performances and goals. I watched highlights of our youth matches but was disappointed the dot com doesn’t show all of them. Even so, it was good to connect with the football again away from the noise.
I don’t think we’re playing well as a team, especially in attack. Saka and ESR though, have been amazingly good. We’re so lucky to have them.
Confidence and pride
ESR should be brimming with confidence as he saw his run of good form rewarded with an England call up and a debut on goal. It was only San Marino and a 10-0 win, but Emile still deserves to be proud of himself. Joining him in the starting lineup were Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka. It can only be a good thing for our confidence as a team. If Auba and Partey are declared fit, we shouldn’t approach this with any sense of inferiority.
Liverpool are a great side, but I don’t like the ‘pragmatism’ many of our fans are accepting. We should be looking to win. In that, at least, Arteta and I are in agreement.
The Liverpudlians are fresh off the loss to West Ham ending their 20-game unbeaten run in the PL. It not only ensured another year Wenger’s greatest prophecy and achievement went unmatched but it also means Arsenal now have the longest active unbeaten run in the PL.
Keeping a 4th away clean sheet
Mo Salah will have something to say about that of course. He’s got 7 goals and 2 assists in his 9 appearances against us and will be joined by a fit again Sadio Mane. Ramsdale and the Arsenal defense will have to be very strong to ensure Arsenal keep a 4th consecutive away clean sheet for the first time since 2005.
If we get a win we’ll go ahead of Liverpool which really would be something to be happy about. It will however only put us level on points by opposition compared to last season. Therein lies the challenge. To prove that the unbeaten run was genuinely a foundation for more, rather than a generous run of fixtures and a bit of good luck.
Arsenal fans wanting to trust the process have gotten adept at selectively picking stats which prove just how good we are. But the real proof will be in performances and results against the top sides. We’ve got the talent. Now we need to live up to it.
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YouTube Podcast:
In the latest Positively-Uncensored YouTube match preview with Shotta, George and Ehab; while there is acknowledgement of Arsenal’s recent improvements and hope that this is a platform for success, there is universal concern about the gap in standards between both teams. Click on the link below:
Artetas Arsenal thrashed at Annfield.
So do we continue with Trust the process version?
As George said in our YouTube video both teams are close if you don’t see them play. Funny but absolutely true.
I am reproducing my post at PA for Uncensored readers in reply to Mandy.
Fair enough Wenger teams also faced some humiliated defeats at Anfield Old Trafford Chelsea but Wenger teams never sat back. He set the team to attack the opposition
even away from home and even against bigger teams bar a few times. On the contrary Arteta sets the team with the defence first approach even at home and against smaller teams. This is his 3rd season at Arsenal and we are watching dire football even at the Emirates & even after spending 300 million we are no way near the weakest of Wenger squads.
Imagine Wenger spending 300 million he would have stormed the league year in year out.
I thought the whole reason people wanted Wenger out was b/c “top 4 wasn’t good enough” & that AFC had to be “more ambitious.” Yet somehow people have accepted one of the most uncreative/attacking sides & defend them with every excuse under the sun. It makes absolutely no sense.
Btw George and I discussed this in our post game which will soon be posted.