Liverpool’s Luis Suarez
The English Premier League serves up a mouthwatering encounter this weekend as two of the most in-form teams meet with a place at the top of the standings at stake. Log leaders Arsenal will face their toughest test yet in the league when they host third place Liverpool at the Emirates.
Arsenal have had a dream start to the Premier League with seven wins from nine matches and just one loss against Aston Villa on matchday one, that sees them two points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool. Their 20 goals is the most scored by a team in the league so far and those goals can be attributed to two of the hottest midfielders in England at the moment, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey. The pair have been phenomenal and provide Olivier Giroud with the perfect supply that the Frenchman thrives on.
Although not a convincing performance from the Gunners they managed to pick up all the three points against a spirited Crystal Palace side last Saturday. After a goalless first half, Mikel Arteta scored from the spot just 50 seconds into the second half thanks to a penalty won by Serge Gnabry to give the Gunners a crucial 1-0 lead. Halfway into the second half, goal scorer Mikel Arteta received a harsh red card for a tackle on former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh leaving them to play with ten men for the remaining 20 odd minutes and if not for Wojciech Szczesny’s man of the match performance, Arsenal would have easily dropped points.
Olivier Giroud’s 87th minute goal sealed three points helping Arsenal to maintain their top spot for another week and maintained an unbeaten away record for the Gunners that stretches back to March. Arsenal will be without the suspended Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, who has a groin injury.
Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil
Liverpool’s deadly partnership of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez is showing no signs of letting up with another four goals between them last weekend in the destruction of West Brom. Luis Suarez scored a clinical hat-trick as Liverpool thrashed West Brom 4-1 at Anfield to keep pace with Arsenal. The Reds duo have now netted 14 goals so far this season, helping Brendan Rodgers’ side climb to third in the Premier League with only one defeat from their opening nine matches – the surprise home loss to Southampton.
Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has returned to training and should be fit for the Reds’ trip to Arsenal, according to manager Brendan Rodgers. The influential Brazilian has been out of action since damaging his shoulder in the 2-2 draw at Swansea in mid-September. The Reds are unbeaten away in four matches with two wins and two draws and have managed a decent eight goals in those travels.
Arsenal have conceded in all but one of their home matches and will have their hands full with Liverpool’s strike force, especially if the sluggish Per Mertesacker retains his place alongside Laurent Koscielny. Liverpool gained superb momentum with their last result, and, with the prospect of Philippe Coutinho returning from injury, they’ll rightly head for an admittedly impressive Arsenal with confidence. With Suarez in flying form the Reds are tipped for a victory at the Emirates.
