After his exertions or Saturday against Chelsea, Ade has been rested. As has Robin van Persie, for a much more serious problem. The good news for the Gunners though is that Bacary Sagna's back.
The Scousers are also counting a huge loss because their inspirational captain Stevie G is still unwell. The significance of this game is not lost on the 'Pool faithful at all. With six games to go, they badly need a win to go atop the league and it is also a morale boost for its team...which needs it badly.
Magic vs Nightmare
For long-time Scousers this game brings back painful nightmares while for Gunners it's of snow-white magic..20 years old. On 26th May 1989 Arsenal went to Liverpool needing a 2-0 win to clinch the title. Because of fixture congestion and the Hillsborough disaster, the fixture had been put back to the end of the season, after Liverpool had won the FA Cup. This created a unique situation where the 2 teams still in with a chance of the title played each other for it at the end of the season. And let's face it, the sympathy of everyone but Arsenal fans was with the double-chasing scousers.
The odds were against the Gunners. Liverpool hadn't lost by 2 goals at home in donkeys years. But master tactician George Graham went there with a plan, and it worked.
Alan Smith glanced in a header early in the second half, and with the Liverpool bench in triumphal mode as the game entered the last minute, Arsenal launched one last attack.....
It's up for grabs now...And after that famous victory, sweet vengeance will be enough to motivate the 'Pudlians and as for Arsenal, well, they really have nothing to lose but pride, yes?
