Arsenal’s Likely XI Against Liverpool – Ox And Wilshere To Start?

Saturday’s blockbuster sees Arsenal travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool which certainly is for sure the match of the weekend. The top of the table clash comes just after Chelsea shocked Manchester City at the Etihad by the thinnest of margins, meaning the Gunners could retain top spot after twenty four games in this excruciating Premier League campaign.

Arsenal come into this clash after a routine win over Crystal Palace at home while Liverpool will be kicking themselves to get only a point against West Brom at the Hawthorns following a horrendous give away from former Gunner Kolo Toure. So can Arsenal beat the Reds from Merseyside at the latter’s own back yard or will the Reds steamroll past Arsene Wenger’s goons? Here is Arsenal’s strongest eleven to face Liverpool at Anfield.

Goalkeeping:

Wojciech Szczesny will man the Arsenal goal as the Gunners enter the most crucial stage of their title challenge. Wenger would certainly believe that they can better their performance away from home against the top four and for that his goalkeeper has to be up against the mark and raise the bar if he has to stop the Liverpool juggernaut at Anfield on Saturday.

Defence:

Arsenal’s defence will face its toughest task in the recent weeks as they line up against the fearsome SAS, the Suarez and Sturridge partnership which is getting incisive, sharper and better by each passing week. Bacary Sagna should start in the right back slot and will have to guard against complacency coming up against Phillipe Coutinho on the flanks. The Brazilian will look to cut open and run past Sagna time and again while Wenger must decide whether he needs the adventurous Kieran Gibbs over the cautious Nacho Monreal. Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker however will have their task cut out and if Arsenal are to get anything more than a point from the encounter, the French-German duo have to be on top of their game.

Midfield:

The plethora of injury concerns for Arsenal in the middle of the park will surely make the frowns on Wenger’s forehead a bit more crooked. Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey are both out while Mathieu Flamini will serve the second of his four match suspension. Even transfer deadline day on loan signing Kim Kallstrom has a microfracture on his back and will be ruled out for around six weeks.

It is reported that Oxlade Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere should travel to Merseyside. However, it would be upto Wenger to decide who starts alongside Arteta in the middle of the park. While Wenger would normally go with Wilshere, Ox, had a brilliant outing against Crystal Palace playing in the central role which leaves the manager in a jigsaw to decide between the duo. Elsewhere the likes of Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski are expected to start.

P.S: Here is an alternate thought. It would be difficult to drop Chamberlain after such an incredible performance last week, so Wenger might just keep him in the side but play him on the wings where he can be equally good on the counters leaving Jack Wilshere the central midfielder role where he thrives. This means Cazorla can go back to his usual position on the left, and Podoslki starting from the bench. The German along side Rosicky would be effective when brought in as a substitute in the second half.

Strike force:

Olivier Giroud will again play as the target man as the Frenchman will look to run behind the Liverpool defence and also hold the ball up for his team mates to get involved. Giroud will also have the advantage of playing ahead of the triumvirate behind his back and might get into the score sheet at Anfield.