Liverpool vs Arsenal opinions

The Best Things Come in Three’s And this time is no exception with the Arsenal vs Liverpool trilogy taking centre stage ahead of the first leg 1-1 draw between the two sides at the Emirates... William Sheehan reviews...

It has been two hundred and thirty five days since Arsenal and Liverpool kicked off their respective 2007-08 seasons. With both clubs being two of the biggest clubs in England, indeed the world, expectations are always high among supporters. After so many highs and so many lows for both clubs during the season it all comes down to these three matches. In eight quick days Arsenal and Liverpool will engage each other three times, twice at the Emirates and once at Anfield to determine their seasons. Both managers have admitted this is crunch time, for the loser of this trilogy it will undoubtedly mean their quest for silverware this season is over. Besides the consequences for who win’s and who loses, I believe this trilogy will hold some key answers for both clubs to statements that we have heard surrounding them week in – week out.

Firstly Arsenal’s kids, it is an excuse that always rears it head when Arsenal lose, ‘their just kids,’ ‘they lack experience’. The statement actually implies the players lacked the skill to defeat their opponent but one thing Arsenal do not lack is skill. Secondly, an equally important issue surrounding Liverpool, I believe, will be answered. Rotation is almost Rafael Benitez’s second name, they are inseparable, surely this is the chance to prove its worth. Three games in eight days, if the Liverpool squad has the depth as many claim it do, surely this will be evident over the course of the three matches.

Arsenal’s ‘Kids’

With the loss of Thierry Henry at the beginning of the season many pundits tipped Arsenal to finish either fourth or lose their place in the top four all together. Obviously the pundits were wrong, and if Arsenal emerge victorious from this clash surely the notion the Arsenal players are just ‘kids’ must be dispelled once and for all.

It has always been my belief in football that if you play for a club the size of Arsenal then you are good enough to play for a club the size of Arsenal. Managers can loan players out or play them in the reserves, there is simply no need for managers to play players who are not good enough to wear the strip. In fact, for a manager of any of the top four clubs, playing players who are not good enough is simply not an option. Success is always demanded year in year out and to play players who are not good enough is to sacrifice your own job. Finally to claim the players lack experience and therefore the skill to win a match is a blight on Arsenal who have finished above the vast majority of premier league teams in recent years and gone the distance in the cup competitions.

The players at Arsenal know how to win games of football, they made it to the champions league final in 2006, in the previous round of the champions league they knocked out AC Milan, surely the most experienced football side in the world at the moment, winning 1 – 0 at the San Siro. Make no mistake, the best team will win this trilogy and if Arsenal don’t win, it will not be because they are ‘kids,’ they are men, elite football players.

Rafa the Rotator

Not a week goes by without a commentator somewhere in the world criticizing Rafael Benitez for his rotation policy. Recently Benitez has actually played a reasonably consistent side with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres appearing on a regular basis. In a recent interview with The Times journalist Guillem Balague Benitez again defended his rotation policy. With the trilogy about to begin surely this will be the opportune moment to demonstrate the depth in his squad and the effectiveness of rotation. Obviously it would be naive to think that if Liverpool win this trilogy then the issue surrounding rotation will disappear but if Liverpool do win it will put forward a very compelling argument regarding its effectiveness.

My Prediction

It is going to be a very long and hard two hundred and seventy minutes of football at the bare minimum and plenty of swings in momentum I am sure. Arsenal is a team that have been lacking confidence and due to their lack of depth injuries have cost them dearly in the Barclays Premier League. Their win against Bolton Wanderers, however, changed everything. Arsenal, even with their injuries, are a tremendously talented side and just maybe their amazing revival against Bolton will have provided them with a spark to fire.

For Liverpool the inclusion of Javier Mascherano in the champion’s league matches should not be underestimated, for me the battle in the midfield will decide the results. Mascherano will lock down Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flammini will lock down Steven Gerrard. If the attacking midfielders break their lock down and start feeding Emmanuel Adebayor or Fernando Torres it will be lethal for the opposing side.

The flanks have often been a trouble for Benitez, Ryan Babel will start at least one of the matches but it is also likely Gerrard will feature on the right at some stage to accommodate the large amount of Liverpool have in the middle of the pitch. Torres is just as lethal in the air as he is on the ground and again if Liverpool can start supplying crosses into the box Arsenal could come unstuck.

Peter Crouch, a player who has been left out in the cold recently is worth keeping in mind. Only last season he played scored a hat trick in a 4 – 1 demolition of Arsenal and again you would imagine he will figure somewhere in this trilogy.

The return of Robin van Persie is a massive inclusion for Arsenal and having played in several matches now if he finds his gear Jamie Carragher and whoever partners him are going to have a torrid time.

Looking at both squads they are so evenly matched, both squads have game winners but it is also possible to see how it could go wrong for either side. I believe Liverpool will win this champions league tie, I expect them to defend to the last and squeeze a 0 – 0 draw at the Emirates Stadium. They will look for Torres on the quick counter and Dirk Kuyt will leave plenty of space for Torres focusing on defensive duties. In the Premier League both sides desperately need a win and I expect that to work to Arsenal’s advantage, also the loss of Mascherano will hurt Liverpool, Arsenal win. At Anfield Liverpool will again wait, they will search for Torres to provide some magic and I am certain at one point or another he will. Liverpool will be happy to take Arsenal to penalties, psychologically they already think they have won when it comes to penalties and Pepe Reina is amazing at stopping penalties. It will be tight but I believe Liverpool will go through in the UEFA Champions League. One thing is absolutely certain though, whatever happens, we are set for some amazing football!