Arsenal Vs Liverpool: Terrifying trio can lay down a marker

Alexis Sanchez is set to return for Arsenal’s trip to Anfield on Sunday. Joining with Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette, the terrifying trio could lay down a marker as one of the best attacking units in the league.

It would be fair to say that Arsenal’s attack has spluttered a little so far this season. While they did score four goals to open the Premier League campaign, engineering far more opportunities than that, they failed to find the net against Stoke City just a week later, and looked bereft of ideas as they chased the game late on.

The man who has taken the brunt of the criticism has been Mesut Ozil. While I believe such questioning of his creativity and attacking influence is unfair — the doubt cast over his defensive work rate does have some merit and is an area of his game that he must work on –, he has nonetheless been singled out as the culprit for the underwhelming attack thus far.

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The main issue that Arsenal have struggled to overcome is the involvement of record signing Alexandre Lacazette. Although the striker opened his account in lightning fast fashion against Leicester, flicking a cute header past Kasper Schmeichel, he simply hasn’t been provided with the service that is laser sharp shooting requires.

And the cloud that has hung over all of these struggles and shortcomings has been the absence of Alexis Sanchez. With the Chilean missing thanks to an abdominal strain, there has been a lack of directness and incision in the final third that he so powerfully and effervescently provides. His pace, his skill, his dribbling and his intention — he is always looking forward — are difficult to replicate.

But Arsene Wenger revealed this week that Sanchez is available for selection and could feature against Liverpool on Sunday. His return is most needed. It also offers the chance for Ozil, Sanchez and Lacazette to play together for the first time.

Liverpool’s weakness throughout Jurgen Klopp’s reign has been a defensive one. Lacking understanding and discipline, they have been carved open with great ease by teams with far lesser attacking potency than Arsenal.

With a starring performance from the trio of vibrant attackers, the Gunners could stake their claim as boasting one of the most terrifying strikeforces in the Premier League. There are few teams that can claim to have the same quality in the final third that Ozil, Sanchez and Lacazette offer.

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The return of Sanchez is a significant one. He adds something that is difficult to replace. Joining forces with Lacazette and Ozil is a salivating prospect, one that we will get to see for the first time on Sunday.

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