Talking Heads: Arsenal v Liverpool verdict

Welcome to a new feature on Arsenal.com - Talking Heads.

Before and after every first-team fixture our MatchDay Show team - and an Arsenal blogger - will have their say on the match.

Arsenal resumed their Premier League campaign against Liverpool on August 20 and our Talking Heads for this game were Dan Roebuck, David Hillier and David Faber, aka Goonerholic.

Read on for their post-match thoughts and recap what they said before the game.

DAN ROEBUCK, COMMENTATOR
Arsenal can feel hard done by after what happened on Saturday. They went into the game without eight players and to lose Koscielny so early was a real blow. At that point Liverpool looked favourites but Vermaelen was immense and the likes of Jenkinson and Frimpong also helped the defensive cause while Szczesny was impressive again. Nasri looked bright in the first half but Arsenal lacked penetration in the second half and Frimpong's red card gave Liverpool the initiative. Even then it took a huge stroke of misfortune for Arsenal to lose the game when Miquel's clearance hit Ramsey and looped over the keeper.

I'm not sure what to make of Liverpool. They have certainly spent a lot of money in the last six months and although all of their signings played against Sunderland they didn't really gel. Steven Gerrard is still missed and defensively Liverpool are not great - they conceded a lot of goals in pre-season. They have strengthened at the back since then with the signing of Jose Enrique but there are gaps to exploit. I think Liverpool will attack at the Emirates - we could see an open game like we did against Udinese - but with Robin van Persie back I think Arsenal can take all three points.

DAVID HILLIER, CO-COMMENTATOR
It was a disappointing day at the Emirates against a well-organised Liverpool side. Arsenal had some bad luck to start with when Koscielny hurt his back but there were bright spots with Nasri a threat and Frimpong impressing on his full debut. Liverpool maybe shaded the match in terms of chances but they were able to turn the screw after that red card for Frimpong. The first goal was hugely unfortunate - how many times does something like that happen when a clearance hits your own player and bounces over your keeper? Having worked so hard Arsenal's ten men had nothing left in the tank and now they must pick themselves up for the trip to Italy.

With new Liverpool signings Charlie Adam, Stuart Downing, Jose Enrique and Jordan Henderson all looking to make their mark at Emirates Stadium, it will no doubt be a tough challenge for Arsenal on Saturday. No Gervinho means Marouane Chamakh and new captain Robin van Persie will lead the line and Theo Walcott will be confident after his midweek goal in the Champions League. The Gunners will be looking to turn possession into goals against a Liverpool team that has not beaten Arsenal away from Anfield since 2000. Arsène Wenger's side will have to dig deep, mentally and  physically, throughout this match and I predict an explosive, hard-fought match with Arsenal playing all the football and winning 3-1.

DAVID FABER, GOONERHOLIC
The hoped-for inspiration from the flanks didn't materialise and cost us dear. That isn't to say there were not positives to be drawn from the afternoon. Emmanuel Frimpong, one rash moment aside, looked like a player we have needed for a while now. Wojciech Szczesny and Thomas Vermaelen were outstanding throughout, and Samir Nasri won the majority of the crowd over by putting in a full shift. On the day Liverpool seemed unlikely to take all the points until they had a numerical advantage. Unfortunately none of that hides the fact that the Club is facing a tough week and the prospect of a trip to Old Trafford with a threadbare midfield due to injuries and suspensions.

This is a fixture that may have come just a bit too early for Arsenal, given the heavy toll that injuries, suspensions and of course departures have inflicted on the side. Those circumstances present an opportunity for the squad to show it is deeper than many would have one believe. If one is hunting for positives it would be that we will be able to field the central defensive partnership so impressive in the opening two fixtures. We should also welcome Robin van Persie back after he missed the Champions League qualifier in midweek. If we can find the creative spark so far lacking this term then we still have enough to put in a competent performance. With midfield resources limited, however, we will be looking for that creativity to come from the wide positions with much depending on Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin.

* The views expressed in Talking Heads do not necessarily reflect those of Arsenal Football Club or Arsenal Broadband Ltd.

[Monday, August 22, 2011]

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