Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal Vs Liverpool: 5 key players to watch – Granit Xhaka’s test

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Granit Xhaka (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Granit Xhaka (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

4. Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back in the world. He has been for several years. The confidence, composure, and utter dominance with which he defends and anchors the Liverpool team puts the Arsenal counterparts to utter shame. Contrast his calmness to the panic and uncertainty of Shkodran Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac.

On Wednesday, Arsenal will somehow have to get the better of van Dijk. They tried their hardest in the first time these teams met early in the season, with Unai Emery using a 4-4-2 diamond to isolate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe against the two Liverpool centre-backs. In reality, though, van Dijk gave little away.

If the Gunners are to have some form of success on Wednesday, they have to isolate van Dijk and attempt to put pressure on him. Plenty of teams have tried in the past and failed. Can Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette get anything out of the best defender in the world? It will be difficult.