Will Arsenal deliver on Monday night?

Chilean international Alexis Sanchez could be a key player for Arsenal as the Gunners take on Liverpool on Monday night

Arsenal started the campaign as Premier League title contenders, but their opening day defeat against West Ham made people doubt their credential as title challengers.

Last time out the Gunners claimed a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace, but the performance was not the most convincing.

One of the up sides for the Gunners was the return to the starting line-up of Chilean star Alexis Sanchez, who assisted on the winning goal.

On Monday night the Gunners host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League game of the weekend. The game represents a test of Arsene Wenger’s team’s confidence.

Sluggish

No doubt Arsenal have made a sluggish start. Gunner’s fans will have been excited by the team’s prospects this season, despite ‘keeper Petr Cech being the only new arrival this summer.

At times their team played some scintillating football last season, well for many years Arsenal have played scintillating football, but they have a major habit of shooing themselves in the foot at vital times.

Quality

There is major quality in that Arsenal team, with the likes of Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud all provide a dangerous threat to any defence in the Premier League.

Sanchez is the key man for Arsenal. He has all the attributes vital to be a star in the Premier League. He is strong, quick and will run all day long. The Chilean is the sort of player that top teams always needs. He is somebody who is a real match-winner.

The 26-year-old was obviously not match-fit at the start of the campaign due to his participation in Chile’s successful Copa America campaign earlier in the summer.

Sanchez is super-fit and is not likely to take too long to get fully match-fit. He will soon be back to his best terrorising Premier League defences.

Equal

The Gunners clashes with Liverpool in the Premier League have been very tight. In fact Arsenal have claimed 16 wins against the Reds, compared to 15 wins for the Merseysider’s and 15 draws.

Liverpool are one of the few teams in the Premier League era to have a pretty decent record against the Gunners. Last season though Arsene Wenger’s side claimed a 4-1 victory over Brendan Rodgers side.

Unconvincing

Rodgers reshaped his Liverpool squad in the summer and the Reds have started the Premier League campaign in winning fashion. However, Rodgers side have produced two very unconvincing displays in 1-0 wins against Stoke and Bournemouth last time out.

The game at Stoke was very tight and Bournemouth gave the Reds a real fright at Anfield, with Christian Benteke’s controversial goal enough to beat the newly promoted outfit. The Cherries were also unlucky to have a goal disallowed.

Rodgers will know that his side will have to up their game if they are to emerge from the Emirates Stadium with anything. The former-Swansea boss will be happy that his team have kept two sheets in their opening Premier League matches.

Commanding

Arsenal recent record on home soil is a commanding one. The Gunners have suffered just one defeat in their last 19 Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium.

The only team to beat the side from north London on home soil in that period was Swansea, who claimed a surprise 1-0 win at the Emirates last season, despite the Gunners dominating possession.

No doubt the Emirates is a tough place for opposition sides, especially when Arsenal dominates possession so much.

Counter

Liverpool are likely to be looking to hit Arsenal on the counter-attack, as the Gunners will be expected to be on the front foot from the kick-off on home soil. The likes of Christian Benteke, Jordon Ibe and Phillippe Coutinho will be looking to take advantage of any gaps in the Arsenal backline.

Betting News

Arsenal heads into this fixture as favourites to claim maximum points at odds of 3/ 4, the draw is odds of 3/1 and the visitors are odds of 4/1 to take home the points to Merseyside.

For me neither side are in great form and this could easily mean the two teams cancelling each other out on the night. Arsenal fans will be looking for a far brighter performance from their team against the Merseysider’s though, as they attempt to mount a genuine title challenge.

Will Arsenal deliver on Monday night?