Arsenal Vs Liverpool: 5 key players to watch – Granit Xhaka’s big test
![LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/dc031bc7a257c0f145ac43f526854aceb11c24e61071d555d9d880b0613633c1.jpg)
4. Mohamed Salah
While Lacazette may have been good, not great, Mohamed Salah has well and truly lit up the Premier League. 14 goals, the most in the country, three assists, and a greater direct involvement in a goal than any other player, including Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Manchester City’s plethora of inordinate attacking talents, the electric Egyptian has been central to everything that Liverpool do.
He now faces an extremely vulnerable defence, one that has been especially exposed by pace. Arsenal, when they are aware of what their defensive task is, can be defensively astute. It is when the opposition employs a fluid and fast-flowing strategy that the begin to struggle, with their midfield and defence struggling to remain positionally disciplined.
That is exactly what Liverpool did to them last time out. They carved open Arsenal with mobility and movement in midfield areas. That gave Salah acres of space to work in out wide. And given his searing speed, which is the most noticeable attriubute when watching him play, he caused great trouble. If he is given the same room to manouevre on Friday, the price will be paid.