Talking Points: Can Arsenal block out the noise this time?

FLASH POINT: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool confronts Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield in April. Pic: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Saturday’s Liverpool-Arsenal humdinger is the first of three games between the sides in the next few weeks. The Gunners host Jurgen Klopp’s side in the Premier League on February 4 and in between, they’ll face off at the Emirates in the third round of the FA Cup. 

Whatever of Mikel Arteta’s Champions League aspirations, this group of games will shape the narrative around their domestic ambition – whether the Spaniard like it or not. Arsene Wenger always said Anfield was the away ground he admired and dreaded visiting most. 

Arteta hardly distanced himself from the narrative by playing ‘You’ll never walk alone’ at training to prepare his players for the visit to Liverpool. It wasn’t especially kind to him as an Everton player and hasn’t been either as Gunners boss. He riled up Klopp and Xhaka riled up Alexander-Arnold, neither to their advantage, in recent visits. 

“This is the next challenge. Go there and win. If you want to be at the top you have to go to those places and be dominant,” he said Friday. 

Given they haven’t played at Tottenham or Man City yet and have lost at Newcastle and Aston Villa, this represents a significant and robust test of Arsenal’s title credentials. 

Win and the value amounts to much more than three points. Lose, and the other two games against Liverpool will be played against a backdrop of question marks.

Salah and Saka love the sight of open ground

Who’s the full back tossing and turning the most on Friday night? Aleksander Zinchenko at the prospect of facing Mo Salah? Trent Alexander Arnold, who will have Gabriel Martinelli haring down the left flank at him? 

Both defenders are better on the front foot, and in Zinchenko’s case, will be relying on his Brazilian colleague to track back too and double up on the lethal Egyptian. It might even be that Liverpool push TAA into midfield and play Joe Gomez at right back.

But Liverpool’s Greek deputy for Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, will be needing all the help he can get on his team’s left flank keeping tabs on the remarkably consistent Bukayo Saka. Arsenal’s starboy is relentless and whether it’s Gravenberch or Endo, one of Klopp’s midfielders will be dutied with dropping off and doubling up on Saka.

For Arsenal, Martinelli has a huge engine, and his side will need every bit of that with Zinchenko minded to drift into the role of an auxiliary midfielder. However his manager is acutely aware that leaving that space for Salah could be fatal - if Tomiyasu had been fit, chances are he'd start and not the Ukrainian.

Best defence wins

For all that, the battle to be Christmas No. 1 pits together two teams who share the best defensive records in the Premier League. Roberto De Zerbi said Arsenal were the best team Brighton had faced this season following their 2-0 defeat at the Emirates last Sunday, where the central defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba once again gave Mikel Arteta’s leaders a solid foundation. 

They should anticipate a severe test at Anfield, where Arsenal have not won in the league since 2012, although Jürgen Klopp will expect far more from Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz following their ineffective displays in the stalemate with Manchester United. 

Núñez impressed in the Carabao Cup rout of West Ham on Wednesday and the two South Americans may need to take more attacking responsibility from Salah for the hosts to deliver a statement result.