TONIGHT’S visit of the Champions to North London is a huge fixture at any time but for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, if Europa league football is still the goal, it is a must-win game.
Nine points might see The Gunners return to European football but any less will see them drop out for the first time since the mid-1990s.
The Spaniard may experiment if tonight’s result goes against him, but for solidity against Liverpool’s potent front three, I suspect he will stay with three at the back, even though the winning run with that formation has ended in the last two disappointing matches.
I am sure he will look at the poor results being down to player error rather than the system and therefore I think it is personnel who will change rather than the 343.
It seems evident that the Arsenal back line have, in the main, been very comfortable with the ball, passing neatly out of defence and this has been enhanced further by Martinez, whose distribution is exemplary.
Arteta will point to one of the reasons is having a natural left-footer in the left centre back role and secondly having his best passer, Luiz, as the deepest lying central player.
Therefore, despite calls from the fanbase to see Holding or even Sokratis brought in for Kolasinac on the left I do not think it will happen.
Many may wonder what Rob Holding has done wrong and put simply the answer is really, not a lot, but crucially he is not relaxed on his left.
Luiz played on the left of a two most of this season, but our coach obviously wants his experience of playing that central role in a three for Chelsea and Holding does not offer that.
Indeed, Holding might have more of a claim to take Mustafi’s position on the right after the German demonstrated the old rashness we have not seen in a while, when it mattered the most versus the old enemy.
However, I believe whilst Mustafi and Luiz will retain their starting berths tonight, we will see a change on the left, with the unfortunate Sead Kolisinac being the fall guy.
Against the pace and trickery of Salah, Kieran Tierney should be the left footer to slot in on the left, allowing Saka to play on the left of the four.
The young Englishman can support his Scottish colleague when we are without the ball and be perhaps even more creative and a threat going forward than him when Arsenal are in possession.
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I feel and believe Arteta will too, that this change will not weaken our defensive discipline (we know Saka will work back) and will make us more of a threat on the counter.
The attacking threat will be augmented also as Pepe can start as recently the 343 has seen the coach alternate the Ivorian and Saka.
A strong, confident performance tonight is critical, after two disappointments, to make a statement to the coach ahead of next season. I hope the player can rise to the challenge and out a smile back our faces.
