Iconic former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol is concerned about the threat that Arsenal will pose to the Reds this afternoon.
Arsenal are set to host current league leaders Liverpool in a Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium today.
A win would take the Gunners to within two points of Jurgen Klopp’s side, whilst defeat would have them cast eight points adrift in the title race.
This match will mark the third time that the clubs have met this season, with all three game coming in relatively quick succession. In the reverse encounter of the Premier League match up, played in late December, Arsenal held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Then, in early January, after Mikel Arteta’s men missed a hatful of chances to go ahead, Liverpool knocked them out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory in north London.
On paper, the two teams are well-matched, and home advantage is with Arsenal. However, Liverpool will still show up looking to be aggressive and to take the game to the Gunners.
That positive attitude could ultimately be the visitors’ downfall, according to Liverpool legend Steve Nicol.
Why Arsenal could have the edge over Liverpool
Speaking on ESPN FC, the Scot said, “the only thing that worries me is the fact that Liverpool will go to try and play, and Arsenal have struggled so much this year with breaking teams down because they haven’t had any space. The thing is, Liverpool are going to give them some space. There’s no question, Liverpool will go forward in numbers, and that will give the space to people like [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Bukayo] Saka…So that’s the one thing that worries me about Arsenal.”
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka have both been back in the goals recently, netting against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, respectively. It has also been said that Saka is on the verge of rediscovering the kind of form that he produced so regularly last season. If those two can shine today then they stand a great chance of firing the Gunners to victory.
Of course, if Liverpool do come to the Emirates Stadium with attacking intent, then they have the capacity to hurt Arsenal, who will need to be at their very best defensively to stand any chance of avoiding defeat in this match.
Declan Rice has opened up about how he prepares for big matches such as this one, and he will have a vital role to play in shielding the Arsenal back four.
The most important thing, though, is that Arteta’s side do what they failed to do last time they faced Liverpool and that is actually convert their chances into goals. As Nicol said, the nature of Liverpool’s play means that the Gunners will be able to craft opportunities. Their attackers need to show that they can be clinical when it really counts.
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