Arsenal vs Liverpool predicted XI: Nothing to lose, right?

Front Three

Again, there is a strong likelihood that this becomes a front two, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles dropping into a right midfield role and Gabriel Martinelli, who will start, pushing up to be a secondary striker next to Alexandre Lacazette.

The only alternative here is to get Bukayo Saka into some more regularity again, but I get the sneaking suspicion that he, as well as Emile Smith Rowe, will be held back for late substitution impact.

This is perhaps the one place where I think Unai Emery will err on the side of overloading talent and not letting youth do its thing. Normally we’d see Martinelli starting up front, but given the struggles of the side, the potential to be able to take this match away from Liverpool and progress in the League Cup is far too tantalizing not to get some people in there capable of securing that feat. And Lacazette needs more game time anyway.

Honestly though, its Martinelli who I most want to see out there. Emery has to stick with the young Brazilian as long as he keeps scoring, and he doesn’t look like stopping any time soon.