Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in no doubt "real centre-forward" Olivier Giroud will turn on the style again when the Frenchman looks to win the battle of the strikers against Liverpool frontman Luis Suarez at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Had things turned out differently this summer, then controversial Uruguay forward Suarez could well have been leading the Gunners attack, rather than netting six times in the five games since returning to action for the Reds from a 10-match ban imposed after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

However, in Giroud Arsenal also posses a serious goal threat of their own, with the former Montpellier frontman taking his tally to eight with a late header which sealed a 2-0 win for the 10-man Gunners at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Wenger is confident Giroud will not get lost in the hype surrounding comparisons with Suarez as his team focus on producing the required response following their midweek Capital One Cup defeat by Chelsea and look to stay top of the Barclays Premier League.

"If some clubs were interested in buying him (Suarez), then it is because he was playing quite well, but what is important for me are the players who play for Arsenal tomorrow against Luis Suarez," Wenger said.

"I believe that Giroud has proven since the start of the season that he is an exceptional striker and I am convinced that he will be up for it.

"They have different styles.

"Giroud is a real centre-forward who uses his power - he is really central. Suarez is more a player who goes on the flanks and is more a dribbler."

Wenger continued: "I think our target is to have the ball and master the situation because we are dominating and we have more of the ball than our opponents - and if we have the ball a lot we do not need to worry too much about our opponents and that will be the target tomorrow."

There had been some discontent among sections of the Arsenal supporters at the thought of signing a player who also served a ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in October 2011.

Wenger, though, would have had no issues had the transfer been completed, with Liverpool rejecting a specific B£40, 000,001 offer which was expected to have triggered a supposed get-out clause.

"The player has been punished for what he did," Wenger said.

"We have high moral grounds.

"We take information about the moral level of the player and when there is any moral restriction we do not buy the player."

Arsenal will have midfielder Mikel Arteta back from suspension after his red card against Crystal Palace.

Combative midfielder Mathieu Flamini, though, remains sidelined with his groin problem as does Serge Gnabry (ankle), while Theo Walcott is still recovering from minor abdominal surgery.

Defender Aly Cissokho believes Liverpool can prove they are long-term top-four contenders with victory over the Gunners.

Despite the Reds sitting third - where they are two points off the top having lost just once in the league and possessing two in-form strikers in Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez - doubts remain over their ability to sustain a challenge.

But Valencia loanee Cissokho insists the Merseysiders have enough experience and quality in their ranks to see it through to the end of the season and secure a return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

"I think if we could get the three points against Arsenal it would send a strong message to the other teams in the competition," said the Frenchman.

"We'll take it one match at a time but we have started well and we are near the top of the league, although there will be difficult matches.

"The tough ones can be against the lower teams in the league, where you might think of having a more relaxed outing.

"But if you're setting out to qualify for the Champions League through a domestic league like the Premier League you really have to concentrate and remain serious for each match, whether it's against a team from the lower end of the table or one right at the top.

"We're only a couple of weeks ahead of the international break, so it would be good to take the three points at Arsenal, and look forward to the next home match and try to stay at the top of the table during the break."

Playmaker Philippe Coutinho returns to the squad for the match at the Emirates having been out of action for more than six weeks after a shoulder operation.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is arguably selecting from his strongest squad of the season with only defender Jose Enrique, whose knee problem continues to be managed, and forward Iago Aspas (thigh) missing.

http://espnfc.com/en/preview/367392/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

2-1 in favor of Arsenal

This is certainly the biggest match of the
weekend with both teams getting a test to
their title challenging ambitions. Only two
points separate the sides with Arsenal in
first and Liverpool in third.
Arsenal
Arsenal go into this week 10 clash with a
7-1-1 record and 22 points at the top of the
table. They have scored the second most
goals in the league with 20. They have
scored two or more goals in all but three of
their first nine matches including five of the
last six. Where they have struggled is in
defense where they have kept only two
clean sheets and one of them was to bottom
of the table Crystal Palace.
Liverpool
Liverpool have started to mount their own
title ambitions this season with their 6-2-1
record to pick up 20 points through nine
games. They have scored the third highest
goals at 17 and allowed the fourth fewest
goals at 8. They have scored two or more
goals in five of their last six matches. Where
they have struggled recently is in their ability
to keep other teams from scoring. While
they started out the season with three clean
sheets and 1-0 wins they have since not
kept a clean sheet and have twice allowed
two goals in their two draws.
Prediction
My prediction is for a draw with both teams
scoring. This is going to be the first real big
test for Arsenal and it will be interesting to
see how they react. Liverpool certainly have
a chance for a win in this, especially with
their recent form and goal scoring ability.
Betting Odds: Arsenal win: 2.20-2.28; Draw:
3.39-3.54; Liverpool: 3.23-3.40
Form: Arsenal (W, W, W, D, W, W) Liverpool (D,
L, W, W, D, W)
Prediction: Arsenal 2 – 2 Liverpool

Who is gonna stop the trio of countinho , sturridge and suarez ? Liverpool forward is becoming the deadliest in EPL.

We're going to win this. Though i expect a tough encounter
#Gunnerz gunning for the top

i repeat , who is gonna stop the trinity of countinho , suarez and sturridge ?

wow! going to be a great game, but a win is a must for Liverpool. ynwa!

If they draw the game and we win Newcastle like 4 - 0, we'll automatically top the table..

Up Chelsea

Big match tomorrow. A good result for Liverpool would be a huge morale boost for the rest of the season.

I'd take a draw but hoping we hit them on the counter-attack and sneak a win.

Come on Redmen ! YNWA

Three things are for sure:

If Liverpool loses the game, Arsenal will win.

And...


If Arsenal loses the game, Liverpool will win.

And...

If Arsenal drops 2 points, Liverpool will also drop 2 points

Austeenx: Three things are for sure:

If Liverpool loses the game, Arsenal will win.

And...


If Arsenal loses the game, Liverpool will win.

And...

If Arsenal drops 2 points, Liverpool will also drop 2 points

Wateva d outcom of Ars/Liv, If Chelsea wins Newcatle,i thing is sure...
Toppin either Liv'pul or Toppin d Table ###

babe4wealth:

Wateva d outcom of Ars/Liv, If Chelsea wins Newcatle,i thing is sure...
Toppin either Liv'pul or Toppin d Table ###

Oh, please!
Jessy Maureeno's Chelsea must lose.

Austeenx:

Oh, please!
Jessy Maureeno's Chelsea must lose.

Mah guy, are you not aware that the game is a must win for Chelsea??

donphilopus: Mah guy, are you not aware that the game is a must win for Chelsea??

It's a must win for Newcastle, too.

Austeenx:

Oh, please!
Jessy Maureeno's Chelsea must lose.

How can Chelsea lost !!!

FT
NEW 0-3 CHE

babe4wealth:

How can Chelsea lost !!!

FT
NEW 0-3 CHE

Newc 2 - 1 Che.

Austeenx:

It's a must win for Newcastle, too.

Can the both team win??

Chelsea all the way

donphilopus: Can the both team win??

Chelsea all the way

Newc all the way!

Austeenx:

Newc all the way!

Whether you like it or not we're topping the EPL table tomorrow

donphilopus: Whether you like it or not we're topping the EPL table tomorrow

Okay, I'll be waiting.

Austeenx:

Okay, I'll be waiting.

You'll testify to that tomorrow

luvola: i repeat , who is gonna stop the trinity of countinho , suarez and sturridge ?

the same players who stopped them last season

http://gidigooner..com/2013/11/match-preview-arsenal-vs-liverpool.html match preview here...

I don't trust my Arsenal team like before again... ... Ramsey kan dey play like say spirit no dey en body. I fink Flamini is d lifeline of the team..

Arsenal - Liverpool Preview: Suarez faces summer admirers in top-of-the-table clash


Arsenal and Liverpool will look to underline their Premier League title credentials when they meet at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's side are top of the table having gone eight games unbeaten in the top flight following their opening-day loss to Aston Villa.

But the London outfit have lost their last two home games against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Chelsea in the Capital One Cup.

Wenger made a host of changes for Tuesday night's 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea as the Frenchman failed to secure his first win over Jose Mourinho.

However, the Arsenal boss insisted the defeat would have no detrimental effect on their league form as they prepare for a stern test against the Merseysiders.

The likes of Wojciech Szczesny, Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil are set to be restored to the starting line-up, while Mikel Arteta returns following a one-match suspension.

But Wenger still has several injuries to contend with, with midfielder Mathieu Flamini set to miss out once again due to a groin problem he sustained in the victory at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Theo Walcott (abdominal), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Yaya Sanogo (back), Abou Diaby (knee) and Lukas Podolski (hamstring) all remain sidelined.

For Liverpool, meanwhile, playmaker Philippe Coutinho returns to the squad following a spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury but boss Brendan Rodgers has a doubt in left-back Jose Enrique (knee).

Liverpool have not lost to Arsenal in the Premier League in their last three visits to the Emirates Stadium and the Anfield club will fancy their chances of avoiding defeat once again as they boast an unbeaten away record in the league this season.

Rodgers' free-scoring side have not lost in their last four games in the top flight, scoring 12 goals in the process.

Luis Suarez has scored six times in four Premier League outings since returning from suspension and the Uruguay striker has also scored in his last two trips to Arsenal, a club who tried to sign him several times in the close-season.

Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have formed a formidable partnership and the England striker is the leading scorer in the Premier League with eight goals.

http://www.rosyside.com/pt/Arsenal---Liverpool-Preview-Suarez-faces-summer-admirers-in-top-of-the-table-clash-11.2.2013/discussion.htm

Also Read:

Fulham - Manchester United Preview

Newcastle United - Chelsea Preview

luvola: i repeat , who is gonna stop the trinity of countinho , suarez and sturridge ?

No one! Not Vermalaen,not Ozil

luvola: Who is gonna stop the trio of countinho , sturridge and suarez ? Liverpool forward is becoming the deadliest in EPL.

nonsense, the same players that couldn't score against man utd... Abeg go siddon somewhere jor

If arsenal will lose against a top 4 team,it's definitely not Liverpool because they are not one....the record is there,the gunners will keep rapin.g them. Gunners winning 3-1

ajasa4link: If arsenal will lose against a top 4 team,it's definitely not Liverpool because they are not one....the record is there,the gunners will keep rapin.g them. Gunners winning 3-1

Arsenal has become a football rap*ist??

SMH, anyways that doesn't stop us (Chelsea) from topping the table today sha

donphilopus: Arsenal has become a football rapist??

SMH, anyways that doesn't stop us (Chelsea) from topping the table today sha

for some hours noni.. By 8:30.. You go back to ur real position