Arsenal vs Liverpool: Predicted starting XI: The debut we’ve waited for

Front Three

There is no reason to hold back, because you know Liverpool won’t. They have touchline to touchline attacking threats and we need to boast the same. Which is easy to say for two-thirds of the attack. You put in Alexandre Lacazette up top and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off his shoulder and you’ve already got the leg up on any defense.

But the question then is who starts on the opposite side. Reiss Nelson has been starting there recently, but his minutes have dwindled as he’s struggled to make a meaningful impact on matches. He hasn’t been bad, he just hasn’t been a big presence.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Pepe doubled up on minutes from Newcastle to Burnley, and if that trend continues, then he’s looking at his first full debut against Liverpool and, as previously mentioned, I can’t think of a better debut.

He’s clearly bursting with energy, ready to be the regular we hope he can be, and getting him in there in what may prove to be the toughest match of the season throws the training wheels off altogether and force him to adapt quickly.

Plus, he’s a bit of an unknown commodity to Liverpool, and thus he may find some joy going up against their defense.