Saturday, 9 March 2013

Outgunned: Why Arsenal are now in danger of falling behind Liverpool in the ... - Mirror.co.uk

Daniel Agger had it right a couple of days ago.

The Liverpool defender has warned Spurs to expect a much tougher test at Anfield on Sunday than the win they enjoyed at home to Arsenal last weekend.

And it will be. The Gunners may be higher in the league but Liverpool are the more balanced side.

Arsenal may be far better off financially but on the pitch Liverpool have a better defensive record at home.

Arsenal have some stellar talents in that front six but why oh why do they not buy a ball winner? In Lucas, Liverpool have the steel to complement the silk in the Reds' side.

Arsenal fans will bristle at having to accept it but they are at odds with the direction in which they are headed under Arsene Wenger.

Liverpool fans can see what Brendan Rodgers is trying to build at Anfield.

An injection of midfield quality at the Emirates could obviously change all that. But what price that happening with Wenger unwilling to change course however choppy the waters?

Liverpool fans expect teething troubles for a team in transition, such as the home defeat to West Brom and the shock Anfield reverse to Aston Villa.

Arsenal fans chip further away at Wenger with every disappointing, underachieving result. Many have already lost faith in the man who could once do no wrong.

Indeed, Twitter will go into meltdown if Arsenal drop even more points a week on Saturday against a Swansea team that have beaten them at the Emirates in the League and held them in the FA Cup at the Liberty Stadium.

Twenty four hours later Spurs could turn the screw against a Fulham side that have won just two of their last 14 Premier League games away from home this season.

That same weekend, Liverpool's trip to Southampton is one of four winnable games (the others are against Villa, West Ham and Reading) that could yet see the Reds reel in the Gunners.

It was a prospect unthinkable at the start of the season. But in Luis Suarez Liverpool have a talisman ahead of even Gareth Bale for top-class consistency. Arsenal do not a player as rampant as either right now.

You can talk all you want about the Reds overpaying for the likes of Downing, Henderson and Borini. And you'd be right.

But even the likes of Downing and Henderson are playing their part in Liverpool's end-of-season rally.

And, judging by the impact Sturridge has made alongside Suarez, there is an argument for suggesting Liverpool would be above Arsenal had the former Chelsea man arrived sooner.

There is consistency and cutting edge to Liverpool's play which has been key in their three wins in their last three matches.

Had Sturridge been available for the two games before that - against West Brom in the Premier League and Zenit in the Europa League - it is hard to believe the Reds would not have crowned their dominance with decisive goals.

While Arsenal's fragile confidence is taking its toll on the Gunners' bid for the top four,  Liverpool are growing in a belief that will make Sunday's game against Spurs a real barnstormer.

The match itself is too close to call with Suarez's industry backed up by Coutinho's guile, Gerrard's experience and Downing's determination to fight for his Anfield future.

Spurs, however, have Lennon's pace, Gylfi Sigurdsson's eye for a pass, Scott Parker the destroyer in midfield and the strength of Mousa Dembele.

Of all three teams Tottenham have the best goalkeeper by some way this season with Hugo Lloris entirely justifying the £12million outlay for his services last summer.

After showing initial promise Arsenal's Wojciech Sczczesny remains competent enough but does have the odd mistake in him and is still behind Pepe Reina, whose patchy form this term should not detract from the fact that he is a classy campaigner.

Spurs have lost just four of their 14 away games this season, winning eight. Liverpool have also lost four of their home games, winning seven.

It is as close between the two teams as the battle for the Player of the Year award is between Bale and Suarez. (Robin van Persie has managed just one goal in his last eight appearances and looks as though the season is catching up with him).

With the talent at their disposal Arsenal should have a player in that particular mix. The trouble is, others are starting to match them and could yet overtake them.

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