Ray Parlour shared he was hoping Arsenal could pick up a point from their clash with Liverpool on Saturday and stated how a draw would be a magnificent result for the Gunners.
The former Arsenal midfielder shared that Unai Emery’s side know how good Liverpool are, especially after losing to them last season at Anfield, and pointed out it would be difficult for them to get a point from the match.
“I’m hoping, a draw would be a magnificent result from Arsenal’s point of view as you know how good Liverpool are, especially at Anfield,” said Parlour on talkSPORT (09:33am, Wednesday, August 21st).
“You saw the game last season, they’ve got new players this year so there might be a little more confidence going into the game, but I think it’s going to be very difficult to get anything from the game.
“But if they do then it will be a massive bonus.”
Parlour then pointed out that the Gunners struggled last season due to their form away from home and suggests that Emery may have to drop one of his attackers, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette, in order for his team to be more of a defensive unit in Saturday’s clash.
“The away form has been the problem, last season the away form really let them down,” explained Parlour.
“They need to try and improve whether that be with a change of tactics, they went with Aubameyang and Lacazette at the weekend against Burnley but now maybe you have to leave one out against Liverpool to be a little more of a defensive unit.
“Especially in that midfield area where they sometimes get overrun and it puts more pressure on the back four.”
OPINION
Aubameyang and Lacaztte both started Arsenal’s clash with Burnley on Saturday and both got on the scoresheet with the Gunners beating Sean Dyche’s side 2-1. So if Parlour feels Emery may have to drop one in order to make his side more able to deal with the Reds’ attacking threat, due to them having players like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, then some Liverpool fans will breathe a sigh of relief. After all, there’s no denying that Lacazette and Aubameyang are two players who can cause Jurgen Klopp’s side problems. Lacazette has averaged a goal nearly every two games in his Premier League so far, as he has scored 28 goals in his 68 outings in the English top-flight (Source: Premier League), while Aubameyang has averaged 0.67 goals per game, as per the Premier League, by scoring 34 times in 51 appearances in England’s top-flight. However considering Emery’s side were defensively suss at the back last season, they let in 51 league goals, maybe Parlour is right to suggest that Emery is going to have to drop one of his attackers to ensure the Reds don’t charge through his side.
