Arsenal host Liverpool this Sunday targeting a first Premier League win over the Reds since July 2020. So where are those who started the Project Restart clash like Emiliano Martinez?
Five of the players Mikel Arteta named in his line-up to face Jurgen Klopp’s team two years ago are not at Arsenal for this weekend’s fixture. The Spaniard has rung the changes at the Emirates Stadium during the last 27 months to build what is currently a table-topping side.
Arsenal will enter the weekend leading the top-flight by one point to defending champions Manchester City. They will also end the ninth round of fixtures in the top two regardless of the result of Liverpool’s visit to north London. The Reds enter the weekend in ninth place.
Liverpool have won their last four Premier League meetings with Arsenal
Liverpool will strive to maintain their dominant run of form against Arsenal to move up the table this weekend. Klopp has overseen victories against Arteta in the two team’s last four Premier League meetings. The Reds have also scored 12 goals to just one allowed in 2020.
The Anfield natives additionally broke the deadlock when they visited the Emirates during Project Restart in July 2020. Sadio Mane found the back of the net after just 20 minutes in the postponed fixture. The match took place three weeks after Liverpool had won the title.
Yet Klopp told BBC Sport after Arsenal came from behind that Liverpool ‘deserved’ to lose for only a third time that term. Mistakes by Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker had allowed Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson opportunities to flip the scoreline before half-time.
Lacazette took full advantage of a poor back pass from Van Dijk to strike out Mane’s finish from an Andrew Robertson cross. While Nelson later struck what is currently Arsenal’s last winner over Liverpool after Alisson’s sloppy clearance gave the winger his first league goal.
Arteta cannot rely on Lacazette to lead his attack against Liverpool on Sunday as the striker left Arsenal this June. So, with that in mind, where are the 11 players the Spaniard started that last time the Gunners beat the Reds in a Premier League clash with six still at the club?
Emiliano Martinez (GK): Aston Villa star opened the last Arsenal win over Liverpool
Martinez earned a chance to be Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper after the Premier League term resumed in June 2020. Yet Arteta would sell the 30-year-old Argentine to Aston Villa for £17m that September on the back of him starting their FA Cup final win over Chelsea.
Rob Holding (CB): Centre-half made a rare 2019/20 appearance against the Reds
Rob Holding made a rare appearance during the 2019/20 Premier League term as Arsenal took what is their last win over Liverpool. The centre-back featured in just eight top-flight games that season after suffering with further injuries following cruciate ligament surgery.
David Luiz (CB): Brazilian proved to be pivotal in his first season with Arsenal
David Luiz proved to be a pivotal part of the Arsenal backline over the Brazilian’s first term in north London. Unai Emery paid Chelsea £8m in August 2019 for the 35-year-old centre-half who would make 33 Premier League outings that season and a further 20 in 2020/21.
Arteta let Luiz leave the Emirates at the end of his contract in June 2021 before the 57-cap international joined Flamengo. He is still with the Rubro-Negro today, but his terms at the Rio de Janeiro side are due to end in December once the Brazilian Serie A term concludes.
Kieran Tierney (CB): Left-back featured in a central role against Liverpool in 2020
Arteta had Kieran Tierney as a left-sided centre-half in his three-man backline the last time Arsenal beat Liverpool. The Scotland left-back had rarely occupied the role before meeting the Anfield natives. He has not started in the role with the Gunners since December 2020.
Cedric Soares (RM): Starter of Arsenal’s last win over Liverpool yet to play this term
Cedric Soares returned to Arsenal’s bench for their Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt on Thursday. The Portugal defender had been absent for a month after he suffered a knock in training. Arteta has not given the 31-year-old a second so far this term in any competition.
Lucas Torreira (CM): Arsenal sold the Uruguay midfielder to Galatasaray in August
Arsenal sold Lucas Torreira to Galatasaray this August for £5.5m after the 26-year-old had returned to the club from season-long loans to Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina. Emery had signed the Uruguayan from Sampdoria in 2018 for £26m and he amassed just 89 matches.
Granit Xhaka (CM): Swiss star will play an instrumental role in Sunday’s match
Granit Xhaka will play an instrumental role in Arsenal’s efforts to beat Liverpool on Sunday. The Swiss star has enjoyed a resurgence at the Emirates to become a fans’ favourite with a box-to-box role in Arteta’s system. He was also the Man of the Match against Tottenham.
Bukayo Saka (LM): Arteta utilised the England winger on the left for their 2020 win
Arteta utilised Saka as his wide-left option the last time Arsenal beat Liverpool in July 2020. The 21-year-old was establishing himself as a Premier League talent after breaking through that season. He also occasionally featured as a left-back but is now a talisman on the right.
Reiss Nelson (RW): Arsenal winger scored his club’s last winner over Liverpool
Nelson’s goal secured Arsenal’s last Premier League win over Liverpool after he capitalised on Alisson’s mistake. It was also the 22-year-old first top-flight goal for the Gunners. Yet he has not managed to add to his tally for the north Londoners in a further four appearances.
Alexandre Lacazette (ST): Lyon star scored the last time Arsenal beat Liverpool
Lacazette drew Arsenal level in their last win over Liverpool following a sloppy pass back to Alisson by Van Dijk. The striker had joined the Gunners from Lyon in 2017 for a club-record £46.5m. He re-joined the Ligue 1 side this June as a free agent after 71 goals in 206 games.
Nicolas Pepe (LW): Arsenal loaned their record-signing to OGC Nice
Arsenal broke their club record again in July 2019 to sign Nicolas Pepe for £72m from LOSC Lille. But the move has not worked out with the winger now back in France at OGC Nice on loan. The 27-year-old has just 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 outings for the Gunners so far.
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