Can Arsenals Willy out shoot a Giraffe?
On thier way
By Boris Mellor
October 27 2007
It is ironic that one of Arsenals leading scorers against Liverpool is William Gallas, who has scored three goals against the Scousers. True one was with Chelsea, and another with a strange bit of his anatomy. Meanwhile for Liverpool it is robo man that has a good record against the Gunners, one hat trick at Anfield, and a goal when he was with the Saints.
It is probably Crouch’s way of avenging himself on Wenger for suggesting that he was better suited to basketball.
Last season Arsenal only lost one game in six against the top three, and that was at Liverpool. Nonetheless, in the four games that Arsenal played last year against Rafa’s boys the Gunners won three, two of them at Anfield.
The only game that Liverpool won came immediately after international week, always a good time to play the Gunners. The four matches provided 21 goals.
Irresistible Force v Immovable Object? These are the last two unbeaten teams in the Premiership, but Liverpool have won only one game at home, drawing the other three.
However, they have won four games away, so if Rafa wants to win this he will have to play like the away team, which may, or may not suit Arsene, who always sends his team out to play like a home team. How much of a threat are Liverpool? Well they scraped a draw with Spurs, and are very good at winning dodgy pens.
The Jol Factor
I believe that Rafa is now under the same pressure that Jol faced at Spurs, the moment a manager declares, “My job is safe”, then you know it isn’t. Those in power are already making guarded criticism, and having spent £40 million, they are expecting results.
The fact that Liverpool will struggle to qualify beyond the CL group stage makes this match even more crucial. Such pressure and whispered doubts could begin to undermine Rafa in the dressing room.
Nothing Succeeds Like Success
Meanwhile Arsenal approach the game having won their last 12 games 34-4 on aggregate. Senderos and RvP remain injured, but Arsene has enough players of quality to make selection a headache.
Liverpool are aware how good the Gunners can be, no doubt that’s why Mascherano is talking about the need to get stuck in.
Arsenal, and Fab in particular, will need to keep calm, avoid letting Gerrard have good diving opportunities, be patient, and they could shade it. After all they have Lawro scared, he is predicting 1-1, which would be fine for the Gunners, but not enough to put Rafa out of his misery.
Warning: Supporting Arsenal is not for the faint at heart... It requires hard balls...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007:10:27:21:23:10 by Padre Pio.
Even if Benitez plays Crouch surely youre better off having Gallas mark Torres?
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they dont like it." P Kenyon.
..after Chelski thrashed CITCH 6-0, we finally ahve a BLUEASS monkey scampering back here....."To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” Saint Thomas Aquinas
Warning: Supporting Arsenal is not for the faint at heart... It requires hard balls...
