I’m Backing Giroud For A 100th Appearance Goal

Match Preview – Arsenal vs Liverpool – Premier League – 24.08.15

There’s nothing quite like the Arsenal to chase away the blues on a grim Monday like today – or at least that is how I would usually feel if I wasn’t struck down with summer flu.

I’m not sure how such a pestilential virus manages to eke its way into the summer months and ruin what should otherwise be a most joyous time – I’m guessing it has something to do with the capricious British weather. Needless to say I am achy, simultaneously runny and bunged up (how does that even work?), uncomfortable and generally grumpy.

A win is incredibly important today not only because we need the points but also because I’m going to an absolutely pain in the arse to be around if we don’t win – my social filter, logic and rationality goes out of the window when I’m unwell.

Nothing could have made me feel any worse this morning than waking up to pictures of two of the most horrendous thunderc*nts to ever have graced the league sharing a joke and a c*nty embrace, as c*nts are wont to do. So I’m in an even worse mood and I have zero patience – not the best frame of mind for an Arsenal game.

And yes, I keep mentioning my illness because I want your sympathy.

Some are billing this as a bit of a litmus test for both teams’ title credentials and whilst we require a win to not lose any more ground on Manchester City I don’t see Liverpool as title contenders this season. A win for Liverpool would be a much bigger scalp than a win for Arsenal.

It’s far too early to say what kind of team Liverpool will be this season – which is a contradiction to my earlier statement about their title credentials – but so far they have been defensively sound. In attack, however, Liverpool have looked relatively tame, relying on a controversial goal to beat league newcomers Bournemouth and a late wonder-strike from the “best number 10 in the world” to claim all three points against Stoke.

Benteke has been a thorn in Arsenal’s side before and you wouldn’t bet against him being so again but overall he’s a lot of buck for little bang.

Arsenal’s main obstacle will be breaking down the Scouse defence which on paper shouldn’t be a problem with the players we have but we’ve not hit our stride at all yet.

I’d be inclined to start Walcott and use his pace to push the Liverpool defence back, pull them out of shape and create space for Alexis and co behind him to manipulate. If anyone can score away my flu-blues (my flues?), Theo can.

I fancy Arsenal for a win, if only because I’m too unwell (ahhhh) to contemplate anything other than three points.

Arsenal from; Cech, Ospina, Bellerin, Debuchy, Gibbs, Monreal, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Koscielny, Chambers, Reine-Adelaide, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini, Coquelin, Özil, Ramsey, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud.

Predicted Line-up

Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Özil, Alexis, Ramsey, Cazorla, Walcott

I expect to see substitute appearances from Giroud and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Match Quote

“This is a very important game where the result will of course be vital. It’s not a result that will decide our title chances but in our heads we know it’s very important.”  – Arsène Wenger

Last 3 Meetings

• Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool (04.04.2015)
• Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (21.12.2014)
• Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (16.02.2014)

Form Guide

Arsenal Last 5 (inc preseason)
WLWWW

Liverpool Last 5 (inc preseason)
WWWDW

Opposition watch

Liverpool have started the season quite well in terms of points, gaining six from six, but they were closely fought ties and eventually that kind of luck runs out.

I want to give my true feelings on Benteke but I don’t want to jinx it so I’ll move straight on to the factfile.

Factfile

• Arsenal have lost just one of their last 15 Premier League home matches against Liverpool
• Brendan Rodgers is winless in all four Premier League away matches as a manager against Arsenal
• Arsenal had attempted more shots than any other team after two rounds of Premier League fixtures but converted only 3% of them
• Olivier Giroud’s next Premier League appearance will be his 100th. He has scored 42 goals in 99 league games for Arsenal – only Henry (59), Wright (56) and Adebayor (44) scored more in their first 100 league appearances for the Gunners
• Martin Skrtel has scored three goals in his last two Premier League games against Arsenal
• Mesut Özil completed 54/55 passes against Crystal Palace and has averaged 3.61 chances created per game in the Premier League in 2015 – a higher ratio than any other player

Prediction

I’m going to predict a 100th appearance goal for Olivier Giroud to complement a Theo brace and Benteke with the opener. 3-1.

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