Arsenal V Liverpool: 14/8/16
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side hosted Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool at The Emirates in what could prove to be a vital season for both sides. Wenger was faced with a dilemma at the back with Per Mertesacker, Gabriel Paulista and Laurent Koscienly all out with injuries or lacking match fitness. Arsenal started with new signing Rob Holding partnering Calum Chambers at the back. With no out and out striker fit, Wenger relied on Chile winger Alexis Sanchez up top with Alex Iwobi, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott the 3 behind him. Jurgen Klopp faced a similar problem up top with Roberto Firmino leading the line as part of a front three with Philippe Coutinho and recently arrived Sadio Mané. New signing Georginio Wijnaldum started in midfield and Ragnar Klavan came in for his debut at centre half. Wenger elected to leave his £30 million man Granit Xhaka on the bench for this game, which would be sure to upset some Arsenal faithful.
The first half seen Arsenal looking to dominate possession early on, while Klopp's Liverpool looking to close down and pressure quickly. Arsenal looked promising going forward winning a corner early on which eventually came to nothing. Arsenal broke quickly with Iwobi and Alexis combining before Klavan closed down the latter. Iwobi again combined with Sanchez who found Ramsey but his shot was well held by Simon Mignolet. Arsenal were the more dominant side in the opening 10 minutes creating more clear cut chances. Liverpool mustered up their first real attack with Nathaniel Clyne trying his luck from range, but Petr Cech was more than equal. Aaron Ramsey was then denied by Alberto Moreno after a terrible mistake by the Liverpool defence. Arsenal were really starting to pass the ball with some purpose as Liverpool seen very little of the ball. Aaron Ramsey spotted Mignolet off his line but his attempt from range sailed over the bar. Henderson then found Coutinho at the back post but Bellerin spotted the danger quickly. Roberto Firmino seen his shot blocked by Chambers as Moreno won a free kick for Liverpool but Mané's shot from inside the area was blocked. Adam Lallana then went in hard on Aaron Ramsey and received a yellow card for his troubles. The recklessness of Alberto Moreno allowed Walcott to win his side a penalty as the Spaniard was found out once again. Walcott, won it and stepped up to take it but Simon MIgnolet ws equal to his effort and kept the score at 0-0. Moments later, Theo Walcott made up for his penalty miss with a tidy finish into the bottom corner after receiving the ball inside the box, as he whipped the ball psst Mignolet to give Arsenal a deserving lead. Roberto Firmino then fired wide from outside of the area after an arsenal mix up. Philippe Coutinho found Georginio Wijnaldum on the edge of the area and the new no.5 seen his shot saved and held by Petr Cech. Alexis Sanchez then seen his free kick deflected wide for a corner. Then just at the end of the half, Philippe Coutinho scored a wonderful free kick to tie up the game at the two teams heading in level at the break.
Many expected Granit Xhaka to be introduced at the start of the second half but Wenger elected to leave the starting eleven as it was. Liverpool started the second half brilliantly with a wonderful finish from Adam Lallana as the English midfielder composed himself in the box and finished with aplomb to give his side the lead. Liverpool were attacking confidently as they sought a third to kill the game off as they played the ball well. Liverpool got their third with a wonderful delivery from Nathaniel Clyne who found Philippe Coutinho who grabbed his second as he swept home past Cech to kill off the 'Gunners'. Roberto Firmino then found Coutinho who seen his shot parried by Cech into the path of Lallana but the midfielder couldn't find the net from close range. Arsenal brought on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the injured Alex Iwobi as they looked for something in the last 30 minutes. Santi Cazorla was next to be introduced as he replaced Aaron Ramsey. Icing on the cake for Liverpool came when newest addition Sadio Mané tore Arsenal apart before cutting inside and smashing home past Cech to add to Arsene Wenger's misery. Moments later, substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain grabbed a goal back for Arsenal via a deflection after he beat a couple of Arsenal defenders. Arsenal finally handed Granit Xhaka his debut with much expectancy for the Swiss international following his big money move from Borussia Monchengladbach, as the former Basel midfielder replaced another former Basel man Mohammed Elneny. Emre Can would be next to come on for Liverpool as he replaced the seemingly injured Philippe Coutinho. Santi Cazorla then blasted high and wide with plenty of time to settle himself. Arsneal set up a tense 15 minutes for Liverpool as Calum Chambers scored with a delicate flick with his head to make it 4-3. Jurgen Klopp brought on Divock Origi for Adam Lallana with just 15 minutes to go as Arsenal looked to find a late equaliser.
Dejan Lovren conceded a corner with just 10 minutes to go as Arsenal pushed on but the corner came to nothing. Roberto Firmino went very close to adding a fifth for Liverpool but his deflected strike went wide of the post. With just under 5 minutes left, Kevin Stewart replaced Georginio Wijnaldum as Klopp looked to hold on to a precious 3 points. The man of the match award was handed to Brazilian forward Philippe Coutinho who bagged a brace and set up Liverpool's second. Liverpool did enough in the end and held out Arsenal to win 4-3.
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The first half seen Arsenal looking to dominate possession early on, while Klopp's Liverpool looking to close down and pressure quickly. Arsenal looked promising going forward winning a corner early on which eventually came to nothing. Arsenal broke quickly with Iwobi and Alexis combining before Klavan closed down the latter. Iwobi again combined with Sanchez who found Ramsey but his shot was well held by Simon Mignolet. Arsenal were the more dominant side in the opening 10 minutes creating more clear cut chances. Liverpool mustered up their first real attack with Nathaniel Clyne trying his luck from range, but Petr Cech was more than equal. Aaron Ramsey was then denied by Alberto Moreno after a terrible mistake by the Liverpool defence. Arsenal were really starting to pass the ball with some purpose as Liverpool seen very little of the ball. Aaron Ramsey spotted Mignolet off his line but his attempt from range sailed over the bar. Henderson then found Coutinho at the back post but Bellerin spotted the danger quickly. Roberto Firmino seen his shot blocked by Chambers as Moreno won a free kick for Liverpool but Mané's shot from inside the area was blocked. Adam Lallana then went in hard on Aaron Ramsey and received a yellow card for his troubles. The recklessness of Alberto Moreno allowed Walcott to win his side a penalty as the Spaniard was found out once again. Walcott, won it and stepped up to take it but Simon MIgnolet ws equal to his effort and kept the score at 0-0. Moments later, Theo Walcott made up for his penalty miss with a tidy finish into the bottom corner after receiving the ball inside the box, as he whipped the ball psst Mignolet to give Arsenal a deserving lead. Roberto Firmino then fired wide from outside of the area after an arsenal mix up. Philippe Coutinho found Georginio Wijnaldum on the edge of the area and the new no.5 seen his shot saved and held by Petr Cech. Alexis Sanchez then seen his free kick deflected wide for a corner. Then just at the end of the half, Philippe Coutinho scored a wonderful free kick to tie up the game at the two teams heading in level at the break.
Many expected Granit Xhaka to be introduced at the start of the second half but Wenger elected to leave the starting eleven as it was. Liverpool started the second half brilliantly with a wonderful finish from Adam Lallana as the English midfielder composed himself in the box and finished with aplomb to give his side the lead. Liverpool were attacking confidently as they sought a third to kill the game off as they played the ball well. Liverpool got their third with a wonderful delivery from Nathaniel Clyne who found Philippe Coutinho who grabbed his second as he swept home past Cech to kill off the 'Gunners'. Roberto Firmino then found Coutinho who seen his shot parried by Cech into the path of Lallana but the midfielder couldn't find the net from close range. Arsenal brought on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the injured Alex Iwobi as they looked for something in the last 30 minutes. Santi Cazorla was next to be introduced as he replaced Aaron Ramsey. Icing on the cake for Liverpool came when newest addition Sadio Mané tore Arsenal apart before cutting inside and smashing home past Cech to add to Arsene Wenger's misery. Moments later, substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain grabbed a goal back for Arsenal via a deflection after he beat a couple of Arsenal defenders. Arsenal finally handed Granit Xhaka his debut with much expectancy for the Swiss international following his big money move from Borussia Monchengladbach, as the former Basel midfielder replaced another former Basel man Mohammed Elneny. Emre Can would be next to come on for Liverpool as he replaced the seemingly injured Philippe Coutinho. Santi Cazorla then blasted high and wide with plenty of time to settle himself. Arsneal set up a tense 15 minutes for Liverpool as Calum Chambers scored with a delicate flick with his head to make it 4-3. Jurgen Klopp brought on Divock Origi for Adam Lallana with just 15 minutes to go as Arsenal looked to find a late equaliser.
Dejan Lovren conceded a corner with just 10 minutes to go as Arsenal pushed on but the corner came to nothing. Roberto Firmino went very close to adding a fifth for Liverpool but his deflected strike went wide of the post. With just under 5 minutes left, Kevin Stewart replaced Georginio Wijnaldum as Klopp looked to hold on to a precious 3 points. The man of the match award was handed to Brazilian forward Philippe Coutinho who bagged a brace and set up Liverpool's second. Liverpool did enough in the end and held out Arsenal to win 4-3.
like,comment and follow for daily football news and opinions
requests:markeyross198.RM@gmail.com
Ross
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