In the Premier League, Arsenal FC meets Liverpool FC. The signs have changed. The Gunners aren’t going into this game as underdogs.
If Arsenal FC in recent years to FC Liverpool met, were the claims clearly defined. 2:0, 4:0, 3:0 were the last results in the Premier League in favor of the Reds. The last goal against Liverpool shot them Gunners Almost exactly two years ago in the 1:3 defeat.
Defeat after defeat for Arsenal in this duel between the two big clubs: That should happen on Sunday (October 9th, 2022, 5:30 p.m.) in the Emirates Stadium change. The Gunners have had a great start to the season. Seven wins from eight games, Arsenal FC welcome coach Jürgen Klopp’s team as leaders, while Klopp’s team is staggering a little through the league in ninth place. This constellation has not existed for a long time.
No Champions League for six years
Because the club from north London with the great tradition had disappeared from the European top class after the end of the era of coaching legend Arsene Wenger (retired in 2018). After all, the club has been waiting for qualification for the six years Champions Leaguewhere he had always been a regular guest in the previous two decades.
The fact that it could finally work out again this season is mainly due to the fact that coach Mikel Arteta is sending a team onto the field that, with its youthful freshness, premier league really upset at the moment.
The average age of the starting XI vs Tottenham Hotspur was 24.2 years. A certain maturity can only be attributed to the defensive midfield. The Ghanaian Thomas Partey is 29 years old, the former Mönchengladbacher Granit Xhaka was the oldest in the team at the age of 30.
Granit Xhaka as the undisputed leader
The Swiss international, who moved to London six years ago, has long since become the Gunners’ leading figure. Nobody embodies Arsenal’s progress this season better than Granit Xhaka, wrote English-language portal TheAthletic. Arteta’s flexible system hole “the best out of Xhaka”.
Arsenal FC captain and veteran: Granit Xhaka
In front of the two experienced sixes, Mikel Arteta has put together an offensive that shines with juvenile ease. Above all, the central striker Gabriel Jesus (25 years old), who had to give way to Erling Haaland at Manchester City in the summer and is currently the Gunners’ top scorer with five goals.
In the offensive row of three in midfield, things get really young. With Bukayo Saka (21 years old) and Emile Smith Rowe (22 years old), Arsenal FC have two promising homegrown players at the start. Smith Rowe was the team’s second-best scorer last season.
Youthful freshness in the midfield
England international Bukayo Saka (21 years old) has long been an integral part of the offensive. She is joined by Gabriel Martinelli (21 years old), like Gabriel Jesus Brazilian, on the left. Finally, in the center, the former Norwegian child prodigy Martin Ødegaard pulls the strings. Since this season he has even been the captain of the young Gunners pack. Since Arteta usually plays in his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, he is spoiled for choice as to who he gives a rest.
Youngest Premier League manager: Mikel Arteta (with Bukayo Saka)
Arteta himself, who succeeded Unai Emery at Arsenal in December 2019, has been under massive pressure several times over the past two and a half years because of the unsatisfactory results. Now the Basque is repaying the trust. His young team has completely internalized his style of play with offensive combinations in the smallest of spaces and an extremely fast build-up.
Most recently, Tottenham Hotspur felt like one of the top teams in the league. Next up is Liverpool FC.