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#ARSLIV: Five things to look out for

Emery and Klopp

We're looking to extend our unbeaten run to 14 fixtures on Saturday against Liverpool, so what are the five key things we need to look out for? Read on to find out...

ARSENAL'S STARTING LEFT BACK

Carl Jenkinson was pressed into action at left back on Wednesday night, the sixth different player used in the position by Unai Emery so far this season. Ainsley Maitland-Niles started the season there in the opener against Manchester City, but lasted just 35 minutes before going off injured (he made his return to action in midfield against Blackpool incidentally).

Nacho Monreal started each of the next 10 games, with Sead Kolasinac's only appearance so far this term coming in the away match against Qarabag. Then both were forced out with hamstring injuries (coincidentally both on the right leg) at the same time, and Stephan Lichtsteiner started as left full back in our last Premier League game at Emirates Stadium. Granit Xhaka was then shifted there for the trips to Sporting and Crystal Palace.

It remains to be seen whether the Swiss will continue in that role this weekend, and clearly Emery has a big decision to make - Liverpool are particularly strong on their right flank, with both Mo Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri looking dangerous there in recent games.

Monreal and Kolasinac have been absent for the past four weeks, but one or both could recover in time for the visit of Liverpool this Saturday.

Granit Xhaka

GOALS

Arsenal have scored in every game since the opening day defeat to Manchester City, and have netted at least twice in 13 of those 14 matches. The Gunners have now hit 37 goals in all competitions, from 14 different players, at a rate of 2.47 per game. That's our highest scoring rate for more than 80 years.

This fixture too usually contains goals. The last five Premier League meetings between us and Liverpool have produced a total of 27, which is 5.4 per game.

It was 3-3 in this fixture last season, when we fought back with three goals in five second-half minutes to lead after going two goals behind, only for Roberto Firmino to equalise and take a point.

That was the fourth time in the past seven matches we have scored at least three against Liverpool. However we have also conceded at least three in five of the last six meetings.

AUBA ON FIRE

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's stats speak for themselves. He scored once every 28 minutes and 48 seconds throughout October, and goes into November as the joint-leader in the race for the Golden Boot, with Eden Hazard, on seven goals.

He's scored five goals in his last three league outings and has found the net with each of his past six shots on target.

Throughout Premier League history he has the best minutes per goal ratio of any player with at least 10 goals - netting once every 103 minutes (the rest of the top five is Sergio Aguero, Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane and Thierry Henry).

If he scores on Saturday he will match his tally from last season (10) which he reached in 14 appearances – he has nine from 13 games (10 starts) this term.

Aubameyang

LIVERPOOL'S THREAT

This is Liverpool's best ever start to a Premier League campaign, with eight wins and two draws from the opening 10 matches, and Michael Cox of zonalmarking.net stated that "this seems like the best Liverpool side for at least a decade."

Cox outlines the reasons behind their improvement: "Klopp’s Liverpool were initially a purely energetic, combative side who relied upon counter-pressing for their attacking opportunities, but they’ve developed into a mature side boasting defensive discipline, tactical flexibility and tremendous counter-attacking speed.

"Klopp has varied his approach by introducing a fourth attacking player. Xherdan Shaqiri, signed from relegated Stoke City, has given Klopp more options.

"In a 3-0 home victory against Southampton he was deployed at the number 10 behind the front three, although he’s also taken up a right-sided position and allowed Salah to play as more of a conventional forward. Shaqiri and Salah have assisted one another two weeks in a row, in victories over Huddersfield and Cardiff, and Arsenal must be wary of their threat down the right."

Salah has a good record against us as well, he's scored in all three of his Premier League games against us (one for Chelsea, two for Liverpool).

Salah

THE TOUCHLINE BATTLE

This will be Unai Emery and Jurgen Klopp's first encounter in English football, but the two have gone head to head once before. And it was a memorable one for our Spanish boss.

His Sevilla side ran out 3-1 winners over Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League final in Basel, to earn their third title in succession. Daniel Sturridge gave the Reds the lead in the 35th minute, before Kevin Gameiro and Coke (two) completed a second-half turnaround.

And second-half comebacks have been one of the hallmarks of Emery's reign so far. In eight of his 15 games in charge he has made his first substitution by half-time or earlier, and strong second-half showings have generally followed.

Arsenal's subs have contributed eight goals so far this season, while Klopp has also used his subs effectively, with four goals coming from his replacements, most notably a last-minute equaliser from Daniel Sturridge in the draw with Chelsea.

Emery
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