Ride The Walrus
A pretty cool guy.
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Arsenal begin Premier League life after Cesc Fabregas, and probably Samir Nasri, when they host Liverpool live on Sky Sports HD2/2 on Saturday lunchtime.
Arsene Wenger and his club have been headline fodder for the majority of the summer amid what has undoubtedly been the most difficult period of the Frenchman's 15 years in England.
The sale of Fabregas to Barcelona was inevitable, but, with Manchester City also closing in on Nasri, Arsenal are being portrayed as a club in crisis.
Some fans have turned on Wenger as a result and chants of to the effect of 'spend some money' could be heard during the 0-0 draw at Newcastle on the opening day of the season.
An edgy 1-0 win over Udinese in midweek in the UEFA Champions League play-offs has done little to appease the doubters and a positive performance against Liverpool
is essential as a consequence.
But Kenny Dalglish's new-look visitors need to show their own mettle after the less-than-inspiring 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield last Saturday.
Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Jose Enrique all made their Premier League debuts for Liverpool in the draw, but did not have critics raving.
After a controversial, late draw at Emirates Stadium in April, a first three points at Arsenal in the 12th attempt would therefore give a significant indication of the new era under Dalglish.
Jack Wilshere is set to miss the game and is 50-50 for Wednesday night's Champions League return in Udinese.
Wilshere was on Thursday still undergoing treatment on his troublesome ankle injury, which it was originally hoped would clear up in time for last weekend's opener at Newcastle.
That game cost Wenger two more players, with new striker Gervinho sent off and midfielder Alex Song punished in retrospect with both starting three-match bans on Saturday.
The Udinese game saw Kieran Gibbs and substitute Johan Djourou both limp off with hamstring strains, joining Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Armand Traore on the sidelines.
That could force Wenger to hand summer signing Carl Jenkinson his Premier League debut against Liverpool in the unfamiliar position of left-back.
Defender Glen Johnson is an injury doubt for Liverpool, while captain Steven Gerrard continues his recovery from his groin problem.
England full-back Johnson missed last week's opening match with a hamstring injury and manager Dalglish rates him as his only doubt for the trip to London.
Dalglish may opt to make changes, with Martin Kelly and Dirk Kuyt pushing for the staring places of John Flanagan and Henderson.
Possible starting XIs:[/h]Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Jenkinson, Walcott, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Chamakh, Van Persie.
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Agger, Carragher, Enrique, Lucas, Adam, Kuyt, Downing, Suarez, Carroll.
Thoughts?
Feeling surprisingly optimistic about this, if ever there were a time for us to win at the Emirates; it's now with Arsenal's injury problems, losing their captain, suspensions etc.
Arsene Wenger and his club have been headline fodder for the majority of the summer amid what has undoubtedly been the most difficult period of the Frenchman's 15 years in England.
The sale of Fabregas to Barcelona was inevitable, but, with Manchester City also closing in on Nasri, Arsenal are being portrayed as a club in crisis.
Some fans have turned on Wenger as a result and chants of to the effect of 'spend some money' could be heard during the 0-0 draw at Newcastle on the opening day of the season.
An edgy 1-0 win over Udinese in midweek in the UEFA Champions League play-offs has done little to appease the doubters and a positive performance against Liverpool
But Kenny Dalglish's new-look visitors need to show their own mettle after the less-than-inspiring 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield last Saturday.
Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Jose Enrique all made their Premier League debuts for Liverpool in the draw, but did not have critics raving.
After a controversial, late draw at Emirates Stadium in April, a first three points at Arsenal in the 12th attempt would therefore give a significant indication of the new era under Dalglish.
Jack Wilshere is set to miss the game and is 50-50 for Wednesday night's Champions League return in Udinese.
Wilshere was on Thursday still undergoing treatment on his troublesome ankle injury, which it was originally hoped would clear up in time for last weekend's opener at Newcastle.
That game cost Wenger two more players, with new striker Gervinho sent off and midfielder Alex Song punished in retrospect with both starting three-match bans on Saturday.
The Udinese game saw Kieran Gibbs and substitute Johan Djourou both limp off with hamstring strains, joining Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Armand Traore on the sidelines.
That could force Wenger to hand summer signing Carl Jenkinson his Premier League debut against Liverpool in the unfamiliar position of left-back.
Defender Glen Johnson is an injury doubt for Liverpool, while captain Steven Gerrard continues his recovery from his groin problem.
England full-back Johnson missed last week's opening match with a hamstring injury and manager Dalglish rates him as his only doubt for the trip to London.
Dalglish may opt to make changes, with Martin Kelly and Dirk Kuyt pushing for the staring places of John Flanagan and Henderson.
Possible starting XIs:[/h]Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Jenkinson, Walcott, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Chamakh, Van Persie.
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Agger, Carragher, Enrique, Lucas, Adam, Kuyt, Downing, Suarez, Carroll.
Thoughts?
Feeling surprisingly optimistic about this, if ever there were a time for us to win at the Emirates; it's now with Arsenal's injury problems, losing their captain, suspensions etc.
